As the sixth round of the NFL Draft neared an end Saturday, IU offensive gaurd Simon Stepaniak was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 30 pick, No. 209 overall. The Hoosiers have had a player drafted in each of the last seven years.
Stepaniak, 22, caught the attention of many teams at the NFL Combine in February, benching 37 reps in the 225-pound bench press, second only to Netane Muti from California State University, Fresno. However, the fifth-year senior couldn't participate in any drills during the combine after suffering an ACL tear in late December.
Stepaniak was hopeful he could showcase his progress in rehab to NFL teams during IU’s pro day before it was canceled due to the coronavirus. Despite these setbacks, Stepaniak said he is confident that he will be ready for the fall.
“My knee is progressing phenomenally,” Stepaniak said on a conference call after being drafted. “The timeline as of right now is to be ready for camp, which is definitely promising. My rehab has been attacking it so there’s no letup on it, and it’s going really well.”
At IU, Stepaniak was a team captain and a three-year starter for the Hoosiers, starting in 31 games over his career. While anchoring the offensive line as a fifth-year senior and being named third-team All-Big Ten, he logged 458 snaps in pass protection and only allowed one sack and 14 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
“There weren’t plays I was taking off last season,” Stepaniak said. “Just getting after the guy across from me as much as I can and trying to make his day not a good day.”
With the Packers, Stepaniak will likely play as a guard on the offensive line, but said he can play any of the three interior spots. While used almost exclusively as a guard for the Hoosiers, Stepaniak was originally slotted as a center until making the switch just before week one of his sophomore year.
The initial reactions were positive from analysts following Stepaniak being selected.
During the live broadcast of the NFL draft, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he believed Stepaniak could develop into a rotational lineman as a professional. He had initial concerns about his technique after watching the game film, but after watching more, the fifth-year guard grew on him.
“He’s just really strong with his hands when he keeps them inside," Jeremiah said. "When his hands get wide, he gets in trouble.”
For now, Stepaniak said he is eager to finish his rehab and prove himself to Green Bay on the field.
“I’m excited to give everything I have for this fanbase and for this team and for that locker room,” Stepaniak said. “I’m excited just to get to work.”
