Steelers Invite HBCU QB to Rookie Minicamp

The Pittsburgh Steelers have invited Benedict College quarterback Aeneas Dennis to their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to a report by HBCU Sports.

Benedict is an HBCU at the Division II level located in Columbia, South Carolina that plays in the SIAC, an all-HBCU D-II conference.

Dennis is a 6-foot 5/8, 206-pound quarterback, who spent one season with the school after transferring from Shorter University, a D-II school in Georgia.

A native of Austell, Georgia, Dennis saw action at Shorter as a true freshman in 2019, and then was the regular starter for all of the 2021 season and most of the 2022 season before transferring to Benedict before his final collegiate season.

With Tigers in 2023, Dennis completed 220 of 350 passes (62.8%) for 3,098 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He set a career high with 376 passing yards in a 35-25 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in the D-II playoffs on Nov. 25.

The Steelers scouted Dennis at the 2024 HBCU Combine in New Orleans, where general manager Omar Khan is one of the few NFL GMs that regularly attend. They also scouted him at the South Carolina pro day, where he did not necessarily light he world on fire.

Dennis ran a 4.88-second 40-yard dash, a 4.52-second short shuttle and a 7.62-second three-cone drill. He also posted a 9-foot broad jump and a 29-inch vertical jump. His RAS score unofficially calculates to a 1.15.

Players that are invited to rookie minicamp will come to Pittsburgh on a tryout basis for two or three practices. The Steelers usually have a two-practice session on the Friday and Saturday that are two weeks after the first round of the NFL Draft, which this year falls on May 10-11.

In addition to tryouts, first-year players and drafted and undrafted rookies can participate. Last year, the Steelers signed running back Alonzo Graham from Morgan State and outside linebacker Toby Ndukwe from Sam Houston State out of their rookie minicamp tryout class.

The Steelers will also have recently signed UDFA quarterback John Rhys Plumlee at rookie minicamp. Veterans Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen are expected to make up the depth chart for the regular season.