Senior Bowl Journal: 5 Colts Prospects to Watch

Here are five of the bigger names and/or sleepers who the Colts will likely covet throughout Senior Bowl week.

With various college All-Star events kicking off, it’s officially the start of the NFL Draft season.

While the East-West Shrine Bowl began its festivities this past weekend and the Hula Bowl doing so the week before that, the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off this week, which is essentially a culmination of said All-Star events.

The scene in Mobile, AL, will be littered with NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouting departments as far as the eye can see. These Senior Bowl rosters will include talent from nearly every level of college football, providing an opportunity for small-school guys to prove themselves in front of the decision-makers of their future.

While most participants will, at some level, talk with all 32 NFL teams, the Indianapolis Colts, under GM Chris Ballard, have proven to value the upcoming week as 30/74 draft selections (40.5%) during his tenure have been Senior Bowl participants. Similarly to recent trips, they are closer to the product than most this year. The Colts have four staff members set to coach at the Senior Bowl:

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

Kalon Humphries, American Team LBs/EDGE Coach, Colts Tony Dungy Coaching Fellow

Senior Bowl practices are each of the next three days (1/28-1/30) with the game itself serving as the week’s conclusion on Saturday. Below are 5 participants who I believe the Colts will be heavily watching throughout the week.

Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Knight Jr. may just be exactly what the Colts are looking for in a linebacker next to Zaire Franklin. While 2nd-year LB Jaylon Carlies is set to prove himself for the spot in question, this team needs to add competition to as many position rooms as possible, and linebacker is no different.

He will be 25 years old on draft day, which will likely keep him from being a Top 50 draft selection; however, if there’s anyone to bet on despite their age, it’s the athletic linebacker who sits at 6’1”, 246 lbs and has an incredible backstory that keeps him going.

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

With JuJu Brents’ durability becoming a real concern as of late, the Colts would be wise to look in the direction of Azareye’h Thomas. Sure to be a high riser after the Senior Bowl, Thomas is a press-man specialist who is poised to make some noise this week, especially in 1-on-1 drills. At 6’2”, 195 lbs, Thomas is bound to showcase his lockdown traits in Mobile.

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

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There’s no denying that Fannin Jr. is a fantastic receiving tight end who boasts top-tier run-after-the-catch ability. The MAC product finished the year leading the FBS in both receiving yards (1,555) and total receptions (117), becoming the first tight end in CFB history to achieve such a feat.

But will Fannin Jr. be able to thrive as an in-line tight end? At 6’3”, 231 lbs, Fannin Jr. projects as an F-type move tight end that will be utilized more as a receiving option as opposed to your traditional TE usage. Only time will tell, but the Senior Bowl will offer Fannin Jr. the opportunity to put any doubts to rest when it comes to his receiving ability against the best competition.

Aeneas Peebles, iDL, Virginia Tech

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After a failed FA attempt at signing iDLs Tayven Bryan and Raekwon Davis to serve as depth behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, it’s time to change things up. Aeneas Peebles would be a fun project to slate behind Buckner and Stewart as he is a strong pass rusher with serviceable, at worst, run-defense traits.

Although a bit undersized for an interior defender at 6’1”, Peebles led all FBS defensive linemen in pass rush win rate while proving to be a reliable run defender at 290 lbs.

Gunner Helm, TE, Texas

Aaron Meullion-Imagn Images

Helm has flown under the radar in an ultra-deep tight end class. At 6’5”, 250 lbs, Helm certainly has the frame to project as an NFL in-line tight end. Don’t get it twisted though, Helm is an impressive athlete who would mesh perfectly within the Shane Steichen RPO offense.

Forgoing top draft capital to take a shot on Helm late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 would be music to some Colts fans’ ears, given the defense as it stands is a far-from-finished product.