Max Iheanachor's Rise Is Remarkable Given He Never Played High School Ball

The Pittsburgh Steelers are only a couple of weeks away from showcasing their rookie class at training camp. Fans will flock to Saint Vincent College to see how these fresh faces perform in their first public NFL setting. Mandatory minicamp and OTAs were closed to the public, making training camp the first opportunity for fans to watch this year's rookie class in action.

One of the most intriguing newcomers is Arizona State standout and first-round pick Max Iheanachor. The sky is the limit for the talented offensive tackle, whose rapid rise through the sport has been nothing short of remarkable.

The sky is the limit with Iheanachor

If there's one trait that consistently convinces NFL teams to take a chance on a prospect, it's upside, especially when it's paired with elite athleticism. Every rookie enters the league with room to develop, but Iheanachor arguably possesses the highest ceiling in the Steelers' draft class.

His rare athletic ability helped him earn a starting role at Arizona State despite his limited football experience. In fact, he didn't play organized football until enrolling at East Los Angeles College. His first two seasons at the junior college level were also his first two years playing the sport.

Before football, Iheanachor excelled as a high school soccer and basketball player. Once he arrived at East Los Angeles College, however, his football career quickly took off. After impressing in 2021 and 2022, he transferred to Arizona State as a three-star transfer portal prospect. He started at right tackle during the 2024 and 2025 seasons before entering the NFL Draft as one of the class's most intriguing tackle prospects.

His athleticism earned him a 9.87 Relative Athletic Score during the pre-draft process. When you combine that elite athletic profile with his limited experience and rapid ascent through increasingly higher levels of competition, it's easy to see why Iheanachor's ceiling is as high as almost anyone's in this draft class.

When will Iheanachor become an impact player for the Steelers?

Although Iheanachor is an outstanding athlete with tremendous upside, he remains a raw prospect. He'll need significant development before he's ready to handle a full-time starting role in the NFL.

The good news is he'll work under one of the league's most respected offensive line coaches in James Campen. Campen has helped develop multiple Pro Bowl offensive linemen over the course of his career, giving Iheanachor an ideal mentor as he refines his game. Barring an unexpected leap, the 2027 season appears to be the earliest realistic timeline for him to become a starter.

That said, don't rule out Iheanachor making an impact as a rookie. He could fill a role similar to the one Spencer Anderson played as the team's sixth offensive lineman. That experience helped Anderson develop into the player who is now poised to start at right guard this season. Iheanachor could benefit from a similar path. His exceptional footwork, athleticism, and ability to learn quickly make him a natural fit for that role.

And who knows? Maybe he'll even put those old basketball skills to use by hauling in an alley-oop touchdown on a goal line post.