Ole Miss DT Josiah Coatney finds home with Pittsburgh Steelers


Josiah Coatney (Photo: John Bowen, 247Sports)

Josiah Coatney had to wait a little longer than expected, but the former Ole Miss defensive tackle has realized his NFL dream.

Coatney signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent late-Saturday, joining fellow Rebels Benito Jones (Miami Dolphins), Scottie Phillips (Houston Texans) and Myles Hartsfield (Carolina Panthers). For the first time in five years, and just the eighth time since 1937, Ole Miss didn’t have a player selected in the seven-round NFL Draft. All 13 of the other SEC schools had at least one player taken.

Coatney was one of four Rebels — the others being Jones, Phillips and defensive end Qaadir Sheppard — invited to the NFL Combine in February. He posted a 5.21-second 40-yard dash and threw up 22 reps on the bench press. He also recorded a 27.0-inch vertical, 99.0-inch broad jump, 8.07 three-cone and 4.82-second 20-yard shuttle.

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Coatney was a four-star recruit out of Georgia when he signed on with Holmes Community College in 2015. He was ranked as a three-star by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and a four-star by 247Sports.

In his only season at Holmes, Coatney was a first-team All-Mississippi selection (8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks). He opted for Ole Miss over Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Texas A&M but took a redshirt in 2016. He earned a starting job as a sophomore, recording 65 tackles, eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 12 games. Coatney's production dropped off his junior year (51 tackles, 3.0 for loss) though he started 10 of 11 games. He started all 12 games as a senior in 2019, finishing with 46 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

“It’s a blessing,” Coatney said, in a previous interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s been a long journey. It’s one where I’ve definitely had to endure, definitely. I just have to thank God for all of the opportunities that he gave me. Going to Ole Miss, going to junior college, has allowed me the chance to play football at a high level.”

Ole Miss has recent history with the Steelers. Pittsburgh drafted Rebel offensive lineman Kendrick Clancy in the third round in 2000, wide receiver Mike Wallace in the third round in 2009 and cornerback Senquez Golson in the second round in 2015. The Steelers have since rostered wide receiver Donte Moncrief and defensive back Mike Hilton. Hilton, who’s still with the organization, is the third-highest-paid Rebel currently in the league.

NFL.COM STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: JOSIAH COATNEY

Strengths: Has experience playing a variety of defensive line positions … Has punch and press power to set the edge against the run … Fights hard to prevent being centered by blockers … Active and can be effective in hand-to-hand combat … Plays with hustle and keeps himself alive for tackle opportunities … Can spin out of block engagements whenever he needs to … Keeps eyes peeled into the backfield and plays with awareness … Recognizes play-action and gets early jumps on quarterbacks

Weaknesses: Most productive season was in 2017 … Inconsistent balance through contact … Has trouble anchoring down against power … Will end up on the ground or off balance too often … Below average breaking down and coming to balance as tackler … Lacks explosive upfield burst as rusher … Hasn’t shown enough disruptive production against the run or pass

SOURCE: Garrett, Ben. "Ole Miss DT Josiah Coatney finds home with Pittsburgh Steelers." OMSpirit - 247Sports.com, 25 April 2020, https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Ole-Miss-DT-Josiah-Coatney-finds-home-with-Pittsburgh-Steelers-146498209/