Keep an eye on these Senior Bowl participants as they fit what the Colts are looking for in draft prospects.
Senior Bowl Week is officially here. Players’ arrival day was yesterday, while tomorrow kicks off with the first day of practice, just in time for a week full of 60+ degree days.
While most participants will, at some level, talk with all 32 NFL teams, the Indianapolis Colts are closer to the product than most this year. The Colts have four staff members set to coach at the Senior Bowl:
Kalon Humphries, American Team LBs/EDGE Coach, Colts Tony Dungy Coaching Fellow
Matt Raich, American Team Defensive Coordinator, Colts Sr. Asst. DL Coach
Brent Jackson, American Team DBs Coach, Colts Def. Quality Control
Chris Watt, National Team TEs Coach, Colts Asst. OL Coach
By the conclusion of the Senior Bowl, after a week’s worth of top-to-bottom evaluation, I will then break down which prospects, in particular, fit what the Colts are looking for in positional need, scheme fit, as well as measurables, but for now, a brief primer on the Colts’ most needy positions.
Defensive Back
Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
Trey Rucker, Oklahoma St.
Melvin Smith Jr., Southern Arkansas
Malachi Moore, Alabama
Nohl Williams, California
BJ Adams, UCF
Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Tommi Hill, Nebraska
Mac McWilliams, UCF
Dan Jackson, Georgia
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
Quincy Riley, Louisville
Dante Trader Jr., Maryland
Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Trey Amos, Ole Miss
Maxen Hook, Toledo
Jaylin Smith, USC
Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
Darien Porter, Iowa State
Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
Rayuan Lane III, Navy
Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
Johnathan Edwards, Tulane
Tight End
CJ Dippre, Alabama
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Jake Briningstool, Clemson
Mason Taylor, LSU
Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Gavin Bartholomew, Pitt
Gunnar Helm, Texas
Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Moliki Matavao, UCLA
Linebacker
Eugene Asante, Auburn
Shemar James, Florida
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Tyreem Powell, Rutgers
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Karene Reid, Utah
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Justin Barron, Syracuse
Keondre Jackson, Illinois State
Since Chris Ballard took over as the Colts general manager in 2017, 30 out of 74 draft selections have been Senior Bowl participants. After eight drafts with this regime, there’s a 40.5% chance that any given draft pick from Ballard and Co. will have participated in the All-Star event in Mobile, Alabama.
My Senior Bowl Journal will continue throughout the week and will be updated after each practice, with Media Day on Wednesday providing even more opportunity for the days to come.
