UAB’s James Steel brings NFL-sized frame and blue-chip pedigree, but the box score is still waiting to catch up
In the 2025 season at UAB, James Steel did not record any game action, so the early read is mostly about projection rather than production. He’s a 6-foot-4, 275-pound edge defender who arrived as a three-star recruit and the No. 2 player in Delaware, and his high school resume pops: back-to-back state titles, back-to-back Delaware Defensive Player of the Year honors, and first-team all-state recognition in 2023 and 2024. The fit question is simple—if you want a long, physical DE with upside and a strong pedigree, he’s intriguing; if you need instant pass-rush answers, he’s more of a developmental bet.
