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Colts Express Interest in Boise State Safety Darian Thompson at Senior Bowl

By Luke Schultheis

Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Darian Thompson (4) against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Darian Thompson (4) against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, the Indianapolis Colts have shown interest in Boise State safety Darian Thompson at Senior Bowl practices:

The 6’2″, 215 pound safety appeared in 12 games for the Broncos, recording 65 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 interceptions in his senior season.

Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Darian Thompson (4) looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Darian Thompson (4) looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Wildcats in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Thompson was a 2x member of the All-Mountain West First Team (2014-15) and is the conference’s all-time interceptions leader with 19 career interceptions.

Additionally, he was a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, FWW All-America Second Team, Associated Press All-America Third Team, Sports Illustrated All-America Honorable Mention, and CBSSports.com All-America Second Team among his other accomplishments.

For the Colts, the team could use an infusion of young talent at safety.

While starting safety Mike Adams was just named to a consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, he’s set to turn 35 years old in March and realistically is near the end of his career.

The team’s other starting safety Dwight Lowery was solid alongside Adams; however, he’s set to become a free agent and at 30 years old, isn’t exactly a spring chicken for the position’s standards either. 

Simply put, neither of last year’s starting safeties is more than a stopgap solution to the safety position.

It’s worth noting that the team did draft Clayton Geathers in the 4th round of last year’s draft, who played well and showed some initial promise in his rookie season. However, Geathers is more of a hard-hitting–in-the-box type safety, and the Colts could use a coverage/rangy type of safety to pair with him for the long-term.

Something that Thompson could theoretically provide given his scouting report:

"A well-rounded and rangy safety. A tall, linear athlete, he is always on the hunt with an active, fast play style, covering a lot of ground both in coverage and vs. the run. Thompson’s aggressive demeanor also leads to missed plays and he needs to be more disciplined and do a better job controlling himself on the move. Nonetheless, the positives outweigh the negatives with Thompson and his versatile skill-set will be appealing at the next level.–Dane Brugler (8/27/15)"

Currently, Thompson is projected as an early round draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft, as ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him as his 4th best rated safety overall.

He’s clearly already impressed teams at Senior Bowl practices–including the Colts:

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