The Steelers passed on a running back in the second round of the NFL Draft to take a wide receiver. But with their first of two fourth-round picks Saturday, they got a speed back who was one of the best big-play running backs in the class, Maryland's Anthony McFarland Jr., with the 124th pick.
He is someone with whom they are quite familiar. Not only does Dino Tomlin, the son of Mike Tomlin, play at Maryland as a receiver, new quarterbacks coach Matt Canada was the offensive coordinator there two years ago when McFarland had his best season.
"I think he's a good fit to the room, good complement to what's on our roster. We had familiarity with him," Steelers running backs coach Eddie Faulkner said.
McFarland, 5 feet 8, 208 pounds, is a little undersized, but ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
A redshirt sophomore, McFarland was a two-year contributor at Maryland, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his first season before gaining 614 yards on just 114 attempts in 2019 as he shared time with Javon Leake. McFarland also caught 17 passes for 126 yards last season. He had nine total touchdowns on just 131 touches.
McFarland said he was bothered all of last season by an ankle injury, which limited his production.
"I'm 100 percent healthy now," he said.
Despite that, McFarland averaged 6.8 yards per carry in his two seasons at Maryland, gaining 1,636 yards. His best game came in 2018 against Ohio State when he gained 298 yards on 21 carries a week after gaining 210 yards in a game against Indiana. His best game in 2019 came on the final week of the season when he had 134 yards on just eight carries against Michigan State.
What kind of RB is Pittsburgh getting in @TerpsFootball's Anthony McFarland?
Just check out what he did to Ohio State in a 2018 game.@AnttMacc_ | @steelers | @NFL pic.twitter.com/doTau50h76
— Maryland On BTN (@MarylandOnBTN) April 25, 2020
McFarland will join a Steelers backfield that includes starter James Conner and backups Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell and Kerrith Whyte. He is most similar to Whyte, who was signed off the Bears' practice squad late last season.
Conner was selected in the third round of the 2017 draft, Samuels in the fifth round in 2018 and Snell in the fourth round in 2019 by the Steelers.
The Steelers ranked 29th in rushing in 2019 as Conner played just six quarters in the team's final eight games because of injuries.
"We have every intention of running the ball better in 2020 than we did in 2019, whether we add that back or not," Tomlin said earlier this week.
Canada was Maryland's offensive coordinator and then interim head coach when D.J. Durkin was put on administrative leave following the death of player Jordan McNair.
McFarland called Canada "his guy," and said he still has a close relationship with him.
"Every time I see Matt Canada I pick his brain because I know he knows right from wrong," McFarland said.
Former Steelers wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery is now Maryland's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and worked with McFarland in 2019.
McFarland was the third player selected by the Steelers in this draft. In the second round Friday night, the Steelers selected Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool, then followed up in the third round with Charlotte outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. The team did not have a pick in the first round, having traded that to the Dolphins as part of the deal to acquire safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
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