The Steelers agreed to terms with eight undrafted rookie free agents following the conclusion of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Shakur Brown, CB, Michigan State
Calvin Bundage, LB, Oklahoma State
Rico Bussey, WR, Hawaii
Mark Gilbert, CB, Duke
Isaiah McKoy, WR, Kent State
Donovan Stiner, S, Florida
Lamont Wade, S, Penn State
Jamar Watson, LB, Kentucky
More on the undrafted rookie free agents:
Michigan State cornerback Shakur Brown left school after his redshirt junior season and was projected by some draft analysts as a fourth or fifth round pick. He earned All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and Pro Football Focus. Brown had five interceptions in just seven games in 2020, leading the nation in interceptions per game. In 26 career games he had 54 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two sacks, 16 pass defenses and one touchdown.
Oklahoma State linebacker Calvin Bundage played in all 11 games in 2020, leading the Cowboys with seven sacks and six quarterback hurries. He recorded 19 tackles, including a sack-safety against Texas Tech. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by the coaches and the university studies/education major was named first-team Academic All-Big 12. He finished his career at Oklahoma State with 148 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 23 tackles for a loss, and 13 quarterback hurries, missing the 2019 season injured.
Hawaii receiver Rico Bussey started all eight games in 2020. Finished third on the team in receptions with 31 and had 274 yards receiving. Caught at least one pass in seven of eight games. Transferred to Hawaii from North Texas, where he caught 128 receptions for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Mean Green. His 21 receiving touchdowns rank fourth in school history.
Duke cornerback Mark Gilbert played in 29 games, starting 20, while record 65 tackles, including five for a loss, seven interceptions and 17 pass breakups. Gilbert has strong NFL and Pittsburgh ties as his uncle, Sean Gilbert starred at the University of Pittsburgh and played 11 seasons in the NFL and his cousin, Darrelle Revis, also played at the University of Pittsburgh and had an impressive 11-year NFL career, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009.
Kent State wide receiver Isaiah McKoy had 25 receptions for 455 yards, an 18.2 yard average, and five touchdowns in 2020 in a shortened season that was only four games due to the pandemic. In 2019 he had 56 receptions for 872 yards and eight touchdowns and was named third-team All-MAC. He topped 100 yards three times and a career-high 158 yards and three touchdowns against Ball State.
Florida safety Donovan Stiner finished his career playing in 48 games and recording 150 tackles with three interceptions. In 2020 he played in 11 games, starting 10, and recorded 62 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one pass breakup. He had a season-high nine tackles against Ole Miss.
Penn State safety Lamont Wade, who is from Clairton, Pa., just outside of Pittsburgh, played in 47 career games for the Nittany Lions, starting 22. He was named Associated Press All-Big Ten second team, All-Big Ten third team by the media and honorable mention by the coaches. He recorded 37 tackles, 18 of them solo stops, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two pass defenses in 2020. He also had five kick returns for 192 yards, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown vs. Illinois.
Kentucky linebacker Jamar Watson finished his college career playing in 49 career games with 29 starts, including 19 starts in a row. He had 107 career tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, which ranks fifth in school history, 14 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, four passes broken up, one interception and one fumble recovery. He had a career-high 40 tackles in 2020, including a career-high eight tackles in the win over South Carolina.
