On May 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers made four roster moves, one of which had already surfaced over the weekend.
According to team reporter Teresa Varley, “The Steelers have signed running backs Max Hurleman and Trey Sermon, as well as offensive tackle Gareth Warren.” All three players recently participated in Pittsburgh’s rookie minicamp.
Varley also noted the team released running back Aaron Shampklin.
Shampklin, 25, has been on and off the Steelers’ roster and practice squad since January 2024. He has only played in three regular-season games for Pittsburgh, during which he recorded 6 carries for 17 yards and one first down. He also returned four kickoffs, averaging 25.3 yards per return, with a long of 32 yards.
Though Shampklin has spent time with the Chargers, Colts, and Cowboys, he hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game for any team other than Pittsburgh. It appears that Hurleman may be taking his place.
Max Hurleman?
Varley shared that Hurleman played 51 games over five college seasons, starting in 23. He rushed for 814 yards on 194 carries with one touchdown and made a name for himself as a punt returner, posting 353 yards on 49 returns (a 7.2-yard average). He played four years at Colgate University before transferring to Notre Dame in 2024.
While listed as a running back, Hurleman’s best shot at making the Steelers’ roster likely lies in his special teams contributions—similar to Shampklin’s role. His college stats suggest solid special teams potential, but his athletic testing numbers may hold him back from earning a spot in the main running back rotation.
Hurleman’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was 5.73 out of 10, ranking him 844th among nearly 2,000 running backs since 1987. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds and clocked a 6.96-second three-cone drill.
As training camp approaches, Hurleman faces tough competition in a crowded running back group.
Trey Sermon and Gareth Warren
Trey Sermon is the most notable signing in this group. As Varley previously covered, Sermon brings NFL experience from stints with the Colts, Eagles, and 49ers. Over four seasons and 42 games, he ran for 505 yards and three touchdowns on 134 carries. Sermon, a 6-foot, 215-pound power runner, turned 26 in January.
As for offensive lineman Gareth Warren, Varley noted that he played 35 games over four seasons at Lindenwood University. In 2023, his offensive line helped the team average 134.7 rushing yards per game—fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Ryan Whitfield of College Sports Network described Warren as a “mammoth” at 6’6” and 328 pounds, with versatility to play various positions on the line. While his size and strength are NFL-caliber, Whitfield noted Warren must refine his technique and could potentially shift to guard.
