Carson Bruener’s Path to College Football
Carson Bruener aspired to play college football, just like his father, former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Mark Bruener.
Family Legacy
His goals mirrored his father’s: attend Washington, check; and become a tight end, check. However, Bruener’s height—stopping at 6-1 due to his mother Traci’s genes—meant he wouldn’t fill the tight end position. He humorously noted, “We joke that my mom is 5-2, 5-3, so I never hit that 6-4 mark.”
Choosing Linebacker
Ultimately, this worked in Bruener’s favor as he found his passion for playing linebacker. “I always truly loved linebacker,” he reflected. Although he played multiple positions, including tight end, he valued the defensive role for its freedom and alignment with his style of play.
College Performance and Draft Prospects
Unlike his father, Bruener’s name likely won’t be called until the later rounds of the draft. He is projected to be a sixth or seventh-round pick. During his senior year at Washington, he emerged as a full-time starter, leading the team with 104 tackles and three interceptions while also showcasing his defensive skills with a forced fumble and five pass breakups.
Insights and Interviews
Bruener highlighted his instincts and ability to read plays, attributes he believes make him a valuable sideline-to-sideline player. He appreciates the connections his father has provided with the Steelers, having met several Steelers scouts through his dad’s job. He ensured, however, that Mark remained uninvolved in his interview process, allowing him to experience the evaluations independently.
Adapting and Versatility
Throughout five college seasons, Bruener dealt with coaching changes and was a special teams MVP during the Huskies’ run to the national championship. His versatility is a strong selling point, as he can contribute on special teams and even long snap, a skill encouraged by his mother.
Future Opportunities
With NFL.com ranking him as the No. 17 inside linebacker, Bruener recognizes that this draft year isn’t particularly strong for the position. Still, he remains optimistic that his well-rounded skillset can secure him a place on an NFL team, underscoring his preparedness and adaptability for whatever the future holds.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
