According to DraftInsider.net’s Tony Pauline, the Indianapolis Colts have expressed interest in Harvard tight end Ben Braunecker, as the team presumably sent tight ends coach Jim Hostler to the Ivy League school’s pro day on Thursday:
Dodd and Alexander shine at Clemson pro-day....Indianapolis Colts send their tight end coach to Harvard. https://t.co/sjt2ur7QG5
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) March 10, 2016
Of course, the Colts should be somewhat familiar with Braunecker, as he’s a homegrown product–having played his high school football at Forest Park in Ferdinand, Indiana.
He also majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard, so the smart guess is that he’s highly intelligent.
While the Colts re-signed Dwayne Allen, the team’s other high profile tight end Coby Fleener just signed a lucrative contract with the New Orleans Saints and 3rd tight end Jack Doyle remains a free agent.
The Colts have always surrounded star quarterback Andrew Luck with multiple talented tight ends since drafting him in 2012 with Allen and Fleener. Consequently, the team could be looking to replenish the position after this year’s free agency has clearly taken its toll with Fleener departing.
As a senior for Harvard, Braunecker caught 48 receptions for 850 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns en route to becoming a 1st-Team All-Ivy League selection.
The 6’3″, 250 pound Crimson Tide standout stood out at the NFL Combine, where he recorded a 4.73 forty time (5th among TE’s), 20 bench reps (3rd among TE’s), and a vertical jump of 35.5 inches (2nd among TE’s).
He’s already won over some draft experts with his physicality and tenacity as a player:
Not gonna lie...I have a bit of a draft crush on Harvard TE Ben Braunecker. He's one mean SOB
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 10, 2016
While this year’s tight ends class is relatively weak, Braunecker is projected to be around a mid-round pick. Here’s his NFL scouting profile for your reference:
"STRENGTHSPhysical and mean as a blocker. Plays with good knee bend and hip explosion as inline blocker. Blocks to and thru the whistle and completely overwhelmed many of his opponents. Accelerates into routes with good push and is able to sink and cut with sharpness. Effective route adjustment against contact downfield. Understands how to use leverage to create space in his routes. Carries himself with some attitude."
"WEAKNESSESWas physically overwhelming much smaller players on the perimeter. Might not have anywhere near same success as a blocker against bigger, stronger opposition. Gets a little lazy with routes at times. Hands in traffic appear to be just average. Allows throws into his frame. Needs to do better job of settling into space and protecting throws with his frame. Game could use a little more finesse.NFL COMPARISONRyan HewittBOTTOM LINEWas clearly too big and physical for many of the defenders who tried to stop him. Braunecker looks to have just average speed, but we will find out for sure at the combine. He lacks desired size as an inline tight end, but is a perfect fit as a move tight end that is able to block from a variety of angles and still help in the passing game. Braunecker’s physicality and confidence is appealing, but can he make the big step up?"
It’ll be interesting to see if the Colts ultimately take Braunecker, a tight end who literally grew up in the team’s backyard in Southern Indiana.
The team could clearly use some additional depth at the position going forward, so Braunecker could make sense in the mid-late rounds of the draft.