In the world of NFL Draft projections, Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor was a name consistently floated in the first-round conversation. But when the Pittsburgh Steelers made their move, even his own college coach was caught off guard.

"Honestly, I didn't see it coming," admitted Saga Tuitele, Arizona State's offensive line coach, in an exclusive interview. "You see the projections and stuff like that, but I didn't think it would be the Steelers."

Tuitele, who joined the Sun Devils from Fresno State in 2022, has been with Iheanachor every step of his FBS journey from 2023-2025. Their connection actually started before Arizona State, when Tuitele was still with the Bulldogs and first spotted Iheanachor—then a junior college tackle fresh to American football.

Iheanachor's path to the NFL is anything but traditional. Born in Nigeria, he didn't move to the United States until age 13. Growing up, soccer was his game, and he didn't make the switch to football until college. Yet under Tuitele's guidance at ASU, he earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.

The draft day drama was unforgettable. "We were standing next to each other, and when his phone rang, whoever called him from the Steelers had a Philadelphia number," Tuitele recalled with a laugh. "So I was like, 'Oh man, the Eagles, here we go!' Then they moved up in the draft, and I thought, 'OK, it's happening.' But then they drafted someone else. I was like, 'Whoa, what the hell?'"

That's when Iheanachor motioned for the Steelers hat. "I had no idea they were going to draft him," Tuitele admitted. "But it was awesome."

For fans looking to channel that same underdog spirit and relentless work ethic, Iheanachor's story is a powerful reminder: greatness doesn't always follow a straight line—sometimes it takes the road less traveled.