Football
One of the first words that comes to mind when hearing the name Max Iheanachor is “raw.”
That’s how the Arizona State offensive tackle who the Pittsburgh Steelers picked No. 21 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft was described across the board by draft analysts.
He picked up football for the first in junior college at East Los Angeles College, and a few years later he’s entering the NFL as a first-round pick.
Just don’t consider him raw, because for Arizona State offensive line coach Saga Tuitele Iheanachor has seen it all in the football world.
“I think raw is a term because he’s only been playing football for [five] years. He’s probably been through every situation in football as far as game day simulation that he’s been through,” Tuitele told Steelers Depot. “He just hasn’t faced in practice the NFL-type defensive ends consistently. So, I think he’s a pro. I think he’s caught up, as much as he can, for an [non]-American kid and maybe some Xs and Os here and there, and some of the defensive looks that he might have to see for the first time.
“But starting for us for three years, he’s seen a lot of it and just seeing it more and more consistently is probably something that he’s gonna get used to, but he’s gonna do it fast.”
During his three seasons at Arizona State, Iheanachor started 31 games, appearing in 32. He allowed just two career sacks, both in 2024. Last season, Iheanachor didn’t allow a sack and gave up just 14 pressures.
Despite his Arizona State body of work, question remains if Iheanachor is ready for the jump to the NFL. In our scouting report, Iheanachor was described as raw and compared to current Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones. The scouting report also stated that Iheanachor could be pushed up draft boards higher than he might be ready for.
What is known is that as a first-round pick there are expectations placed upon Iheanachor of being a Steelers building block in the trenches. What side of the line that is on remains to be seen. Iheanachor himself said he’s open to a position change, while head coach Mike McCarthy stated the Steelers are open to moving Troy Fautanu back to his natural left tackle position to open right tackle for Iheanachor.
Whatever the plan is, Tuitele believes Iheanachor has the skill set to play either side, even if he only took snaps at right tackle for the Sun Devils.
“I asked him [when we recruited him] ‘Which way are you comfortable?’ That was after his first year playing, and he said he felt comfortable at right tackle, so we just left him there. We’ve drilled him on the left side, though,” Tuitele said. “He’s capable of doing the left physically. Mentally, he’s ready if you need him to go to that side.
“Now, if you need him to play guard, he’ll go down there and play guard.”
He might still be relatively new to football, but what sets him apart from others for Tuitele is his mindset. In three years coaching him with the Sun Devils, Tuitele saw Iheanachor’s mindset and growth each and every day.
He’s carried himself like a pro, even while learning the game, and that will translate to the NFL. So will his ability to remain even keeled.
“He’s a quiet, mellow kid, quiet kid, a young man that thinks before he talks. He’s never up, he’s never down, which is good, ’cause he’s consistent,” Tuitele said of Iheanachor. “He plays off of more passion than emotion. Those mellow kids are the kids that are gonna be very, very consistent, as far as how they take adversity, how they take success, how they handle all that stuff.
“He’s a good teammate. The team loves him. He fights for his o-lineman, so I’m sure with the reputation [the Steelers] have, I think he’ll fit right in.”
The Steelers, especially head coach Mike McCarthy, were ecstatic to land the young offensive lineman with a high ceiling. The Steelers are clearly building the roster to fit a certain style, which is a physical, punishing group offensively.
McCarthy stressed the importance of running the football shortly after being hired, and that all starts up front with the offensive line.
While Iheanachor is viewed as a great athlete, one who could be stout in pass protection, his work in the run game is overlooked. He plays with a real edge, and his movement skills and overall athleticism have Tuitele believing his physicality in the run game will stand out quickly as a rookie.
“I think it matches the Steelers. There’s just the physicality, how he moves people, how his angles, the understanding of the run scheme and getting underneath people and staying attached and driving his hips into the people and things like that,” Tuitele said. “You’re gonna have to adjust to the length and the power of the defensive lineman he’s gonna go against in the league.
“But I think the run game is what he’s gonna be comfortable day one doing.”
Learning to deal with the length and strength in the trenches is a big learning curve for young linemen. But if you can play with good technique, pad level and leg drive, the rest will come. That’s why Tuitele believes his young protege will be an impact player right away in the NFL.
For the Steelers’ sake, hopefully he is, because if Iheanachor hits quickly, the Steelers’ ceiling along the offensive line goes through the roof and will silence a lot of critics in the process.
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