Steelers A to Z: Former college QB, LB Jack Colletto trying to earn roster spot at fullback

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

FB Jack Colletto

Experience/age: No NFL experience/25 years old

Contract status: $795,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2024

The past: Colletto joined the Steelers in October after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers five days earlier. He spent the rest of the year on the practice squad and signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January.

Colletto was signed to the Niners’ practice squad after he was cut in training camp. He had joined San Francisco as an undrafted free agent following four years at Oregon State.

When his college career began, Colletto was a quarterback at Arizona Western. He transferred to Oregon State and was a backup quarterback in his first season before being converted into a linebacker. He started playing fullback as a junior and dabbled at both positions for his final two seasons with the Beavers.

Colletto won the Paul Hornung Award in 2022. It is given to the player named the most versatile in college football. The 49ers signed Colletto to play fullback.

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2024 outlook: New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith likes having a fullback on the field, which could spell good news for Colletto. The Steelers didn’t have a true fullback on the roster last season after opting not to re-sign Derek Watt. The only fullback invited to training camp, Monte Pottebaum, retired before the first padded practice took place.

At 6-foot-3, 237 pounds, Colletto is three inches taller and a few pounds heavier than Connor Heyward, who carries a fullback designation in addition to playing tight end.

The Steelers could use training camp to see if Colletto is a fit with Smith’s offense. Given his relative inexperience at the position, he could benefit from a second year on the practice squad.