Tylar Wiltz may not have been drafted, but he’s getting his shot at the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have invited Wiltz to their rookie minicamp later this month, KCPR’s Aaron Wilson reported. He’s the sixth Pitt player to have signed a free agent deal or been invited to a rookie minicamp since the 2023 NFL Draft concluded.
“At the end of the day, even if I don’t get drafted, there’s a chance I can get signed,” Wiltz said at Pitt’s Pro Day. “At the end of the day, we all just want to play at that next level, so even if it’s the XFL, CFL, just that chance will be beautiful.”
Wiltz, who only spent one season in Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer from Missouri State, made quite an impact in his one season.
The 5-foot-11, 218-pound Louisiana native racked up 50 tackles (26 solo), four tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, three pass breakups and a forced fumble last season. The coaching staff eased him into the lineup, although he played in all 13 games, and he eventually worked his way into the starting lineup.
Wiltz took a winding collegiate route, starting at Division II Southern Arkansas before heading to Butler (Kan.) Community College at the junior college level, and he broke out as an All-American at Missouri State.
He exceeded all expectations at Pitt during his one season in Pittsburgh, growing into a key contributor in the linebacking corps.
Despite not being invited to the NFL Combine, Wiltz put together an impressive Tropical Bowl showing before testing well at Pitt’s Pro Day.
“It’s amazing because you gotta understand who’s on the team and who’s cheering me on,” Wiltz said. “You can’t really say one name, but all of these guys have a good chance of getting drafted — even picked up on teams. So, the love is crazy and knowing that I have that potential, I have those guys behind me, is an amazing feeling.”
Wiltz joins Habakkuk Baldonado (New York Giants), Jared Wayne (Houston Texans), Marcus Minor (Baltimore Ravens), Gabe Houy (Chicago Bears) and Deslin Alexandre (New York Jets) in receiving NFL opportunities since the draft ended.
Wiltz will not have to go very far for the Steelers’ minicamp later this month.
