The Pittsburgh Steelers have addressed their depth at nearly all positions over the past week. At rookie minicamp in a couple weeks, they could also address their punting depth with Penn State’s Gabriel Nwosu.
The former Penn State punter will attend the team’s rookie minicamp. The Senior Specialist All-Star Game official X account posted about Nwosu’s invite Monday afternoon.
“Congratulations to Gabe Nwosu as he is headed to Rookie Minicamp with the Pittsburgh Steelers,” wrote the account.
Nwosu will bring his truly one-of-a-kind type punter size to Steelers rookie minicamp. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds.
To say the least, Nwosu is massive for a punter,” wrote Steelers Now’s Chris Ward. “Nwosu had a standout season for the Nittany Lions last season with 15 of his 38 attempts being pinned within the 20 yard line.
“He averaged 46 yards per punt in his lone season as a punter. Against Michigan State, Nwosu booted a career-long 68-yard punt.”
Steelers Invite Penn State Punter Gabriel Nwosu to Rookie Minicamp
Punter tryouts don’t exactly bring a lot of headlines. But a lot of eyes could be on Nwosu at Pittsburgh’s rookie minicamp this year.
With a 313-pound frame, Nwosu will command attention even standing next to linemen. He also has local ties, having punted at Penn State.
In addition to punting, Nwosu performed kickoffs for the Nittany Lions last season. He kicked 36 touchbacks on 74 kickoffs.
For his punting and kickoff efforts, Nwosu earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference’s coaches. In the media, he received an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
A Michigan native, Nwosu kicked and punted at high school in Maryland.
Steelers Replaced Punter Corliss Waitman With Cameron Johnston This Offseason
Pittsburgh’s punting situation was in good hands the past two seasons with Corliss Waitman. However, Waitman signed a 1-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.
To replace him, the Steelers brought back veteran Cameron Johnston.
His return to the Steelers was ironic. The 34-year-old punter entered the 2024 season as Pittsburgh’s primarily punter. However, he suffered a season-ending injury during Week 1 versus the Atlanta Falcons.
The Steelers signed Waitman as his injury replacement.
The two punters competed for the punting job in Pittsburgh last summer. Waitman won the job. Johnston went on to appear in three games for the Buffalo Bills and one contest for the New York Giants in 2025.
Johnston was a strong punter before his 2024 injury, but he hasn’t punted for an entire season since 2022. That could explain why the Steelers invited Nwosu to rookie minicamp.
Of course, no one would blame the team if it just wants to see the ex-Penn State punter’s size in person.
Johnston is the only punter currently on the Steelers depth chart.
Before joining the Steelers in 2024, Johnston punted for the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. He led the NFL in punts and punt yardage during the 2021 campaign.
In 2023, Johnston registered a career-best 43.9 yards per punt average.
Kicker Chris Boswell handles kickoffs for the Steelers.
With the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rules, though, there’s less emphasis on leg power around the league. Touchbacks result in opposing teams starting drives at their 35-yard lines.
Steelers Invite 313-Pound Mammoth to Rookie Minicamp