An Atlanta native who transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas for a career-best senior season before landing with the Steelers.
Doneiko Slaughter spent four seasons in the SEC's toughest secondary battles at Tennessee before a graduate transfer to Arkansas gave him his first extended starting role. Now a cornerback in Pittsburgh's secondary, he's looking to parlay a strong final college season into a lasting NFL roster spot.
Path to the league
Slaughter played at Tennessee from 2020-2023, appearing in 46 games and making the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice while majoring in economics. He transferred to Arkansas for his final season of eligibility in 2024 and went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
His lone season at Arkansas was easily his most productive: Slaughter started all 13 games at cornerback, recording 80 tackles, three tackles for loss, seven passes defended, a sack and a forced fumble, all career highs after totaling just 35 tackles across his four years at Tennessee.
2025 season recap
Slaughter signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 draft but was waived on August 26, 2025, before making Jacksonville's roster. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to a reserve/futures contract on January 20, 2026, and he has since worked his way into the team's cornerback rotation.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Doneiko Slaughter
- ESPN: Doneiko Slaughter
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Arkansas
- Hometown
- Roswell, GA, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
