Apr 25, 2015 4 min read

When he was 14, Eli Harold’s mother was diagnosed with yellow jaundice. A year later, she died of pancreatic cancer, forcing Eli to live with his older brother, Walter, a born-again Christian pastor who is old enough to be his father.

Without his mother and father, Eli Harold had to grow up quickly. These days, Harold is a former Virginia linebacker who is waiting for this week’s NFL draft.

“I became a man early,” he said. “Not having a dad growing up, being told things as a child that a child shouldn’t be told, it definitely pushed me to be the athlete I am today. Everything I do, I do for her. It motivates me to be that much better, be a better brother, be a better friend, be a better teammate.”

The Steelers could use a young pass rusher with that kind of attitude and who could quickly adjust to their scheme. The Steelers will likely select at least one in the three-day, seven-round NFL draft, which begins Thursday.

With inside linebackers Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, Sean Spence, Terence Garvin and Jordan Zumwalt on the roster, the Steelers are set at that position.

But on the outside, they have only Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats and James Harrison with NFL experience and unproven players such as Howard Jones and Shawn Lemon behind them. Considering Harrison is 36 years old, the Steelers could use another young pass rusher.

That’s where Harold could fit.

Despite playing only three years for the Cavaliers, including all 12 games as a true freshman, Harold showed he can get to the passer. Splitting time at outside linebacker and defensive end, he finished 11th on the school’s all-time sack list with 17 1/2 and 10th in tackles for loss (36 1/2).

He looks to his older brother, who has four children of his own – another died of an enlarged heart a month before Harold’s mother died – and his wife as parents.

“He has always been there for me,” Harold said. “He’s 44. His wife, they have been together since I was born. It’s a very tight family, very supportive. He helps me make my decisions, helped me pick my agent.”

Harold is one of several edge rushers the Steelers have expressed interest in at the NFL Draft Combine and other venues. Another is Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha (6-2, 235), a former judo champion and high school wrestler who has been a productive pass rusher despite lacking ideal size. Kikaha’s talent for getting to the quarterback is undeniable. He compiled 32 sacks in the past two seasons – including an NCAA-best 19 last year. But Kikaha’s size and knee injuries to both legs that ended his 2011 season after four games and caused him to sit out 2012 raise concerns.

“I feel I’m back to 100 percent,” said Kikaha, who changed his last name from Jamora prior to the 2013 season. “I played two solid years on it, nice and smooth with no problems. I had one of the greatest surgeons out there do it.”

Some teams have talked to Kikaha about shifting to inside linebacker, but his production and ability would allow him to stay outside with the Steelers.

“I’ve heard about being developed into an inside linebacker,” Kikaha said. “It’s a possibility, and I would love to be able to call defenses and kind of control what’s going on within reason and kind of know everything, because I want to be that kind of player. Whatever teams want, I will let them have it.”

Lolley’s linebacker rankings

Outside linebackers

1. Dante Fowler, 6-3, 261, Florida

2. Vic Beasley, 6-3, 256, Clemson

3. Shane Ray, 6-3, 245, Missouri

4. Randy Gregory, 6-5, 240, Nebraska

5. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, 6-3, 267, UCLA

6. Hau’oli Kikaha, 6-2, 253, Washington

8. Eli Harold, 6-3, 247, Virginia

7. Alvin Dupree, 6-4, 269, Kentucky

8. Nate Orchard, 6-3, 250, Utah

9. Lorenzo Mauldin, 6-4, 259, Louisville

10. Trey Flowers, 6-2, 266, Arkansas

Inside linebackers

1. Eric Kendricks, 6-0, 232, UCLA

2. Bernardrick McKinney, 6-4, 246, Mississippi State

3. Shaq Thompson, 6-0, 228, Washington

4. Paul Dawson, 6-0, 235, TCU

5. Mike Hull, 6-0, 237, Penn State