The Pittsburgh Steelers UDFA You Must Watch in Camp This Year: WR Marquis Maze

There is one Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver on everyone's mind right now—Mike Wallace—who is currently holding out from camp. But there's an undrafted free agent receiver worth paying attention to now that training camp has begun—Marquis Maze.

Maze has an uphill battle ahead of him if he's going to make the Steelers' 53-man roster, but it's not impossible—every year, undrafted free agents make enough of a splash in training camp to earn themselves a roster spot.

Let's take a closer look at Maze and see what he needs to do to snag a coveted active roster spot.

The Contender: WR Marquis Maze

Marquis Maze was a standout receiver at Alabama, racking up more yards and receptions year after year. In 2011, he caught 56 passes for 627 yards and one touchdown, and over four years, averaged 13.7 yards per reception.

Maze was also an accomplished kick and punt returner, returning 50 punts last year for 436 yards and a touchdown and 13 kickoffs, for 342 yards. 

Though small (5'8" and around 190 pounds), Maze is extremely fast, making him a rookie-year candidate to return kicks and punts and potentially developing into a slot receiver in the future.

The Competition

For Maze to secure an active roster spot this year, he'll likely have to blow away all competition at punt and kick returns—and that's easier said than done.

Receiver Antonio Brown was responsible for returns last year, but with an increased workload at his given position, Emmanuel Sanders is likely to take over that job for 2012.

Sanders does have injury concerns (he's had surgery on both feet), so the Steelers would like to have a backup plan should he miss time yet again this season.

But Maze isn't the only fast guy on the roster who could take on those duties. Fellow rookie Chris Rainey may be the fastest player taken in this year's draft, and the hybrid receiver-running back could be on the field for returns if Sanders cannot.

The other issue is the sheer number of receivers who are guaranteed roster spots this year. Aside from Brown and Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery and of course, the aforementioned Wallace will take up four of a projected five to six receiver spots.

The fifth will likely come down to Maze, seventh-round pick Toney Clemons and Tyler Beiler. Clemons seems to be the front-runner for that fifth job, so it will only be if the Steelers choose to have six receivers on the roster will Maze have a chance.

Six receivers aren't out of the question, considering those lingering health concerns about Sanders and the playing status of Wallace currently unknown as he continues to hold out. If Maze proves himself indispensable on special teams, they may be forced to have six of their 53 roster spots filled by receivers.

What He Needs to Do

Maze needs to prove that his speed is something the Steelers cannot afford to pass up. He also has to prove that his smaller size isn't a liability. He was an extremely valuable member of the Alabama offense despite it, and he did show that he can in fact match up against seriously brutal defenses and still make an impact.

Obviously, the speed and intensity of NFL defenses are far greater than those Maze faced in the SEC, but it was good preparation. That at least makes him stand out from the glut of other, undersized undrafted rookie receivers around the league.

Also in his favor is that offensive coordinator Todd Haley likes his players to be fast, and the Steelers have been ramping up in the speed department over the past few seasons. Speed can yield versatility that size cannot, and Maze might find himself a niche in the Steelers' offense as an eventual slot receiving weapon inside the 20s.

Chances are, he won't get much time in said role as a rookie, but if the Steelers think that he's capable of developing into an on-field contributor as a receiver, they may keep him on the active roster as a returner.

As an undrafted player, Maze will need to make the most out of the limited reps he'll be getting in training camp. If he has a strong work ethic, shows a good grasp of Haley's playbook and impresses in return drills, the Steelers could very well keep six receivers on the active roster rather than move Maze to the practice squad.

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