(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Yesterday an old video of Kendrick Green squatting appeared on Twitter, and it was quite impressive. It wasn't just standard weight that Green was squatting, either ... it was 700 pounds.
The video was from March of 2020 when Green was in college at Illinois and it was posted by Lou Hernandez, who is the strength and conditioning coach at Illinois.
"I feel like I am a really athletic offensive lineman, the most athletic offensive lineman in this year's class," Green said after being drafted by the Steelers in April. "I play with a mean streak. I am looking to play physical and finish guys. Hopefully I fit right in. I am looking to come in, be a sponge, and be a workhorse"
Green isn't the biggest, but he's a quick center who excels in zone blocking and at getting up to the second level. He also plays with a mean streak, which is exactly what new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm is looking for.
"I am really excited about KG. He is a guy we had our eye on," Klemm said. "We love the way that he plays in terms of what we've been talking about, in terms of changing our demeanor and the attitude that we want to carry onto the field. He embodies all of that. He has great leadership qualities. He was the alpha in that program. He is just a tremendous player. He can do it all. The pulls, physical in the run game, pass protect. All of those things."
Green is the favorite to be the Steelers starting center in 2021 and he'll wear the same number as the player that he was drafted to replace.
“I wore No. 53 since high school. Obviously, at Illinois, I wore it, as well, so I kind of requested it," Green said of wearing Maurkice Pouncey's former number. "I got big shoes to fill. I’m gonna work toward that.”