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Colts Select Ohio Pass Rusher Tarell Basham with 80th Overall Pick

By Luke Schultheis

Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball against Ohio Bobcats defensive lineman Tarell Basham (93) during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball against Ohio Bobcats defensive lineman Tarell Basham (93) during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts selected Ohio University pass rusher Tarell Basham with the 80th overall pick in the 3rd round–concluding their Day 2 selections as it stands.

The 6’4″, 249 pound pass rusher is coming off a standout senior season in which he recorded 50 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, a forced fumble, 2 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery in 14 games–earning the Mid-American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Mar 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio defensive lineman Tarell Basham goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio defensive lineman Tarell Basham goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Basham finishes his 4-year collegiate career with 153 tackles, 40.0 tackles for loss, 29.5 sacks, 5 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery, and 5 forced fumbles.

Here’s his NFL Draft scouting profile via Pro Football Focus:

"Player comparison: Ryan Kerrigan, Washington RedskinsBasham is a poor man’s Kerrigan in the fact that he doesn’t quite possess the strength throughout his frame that Kerrigan had coming out of Purdue. Kerrigan also owned a tad more than a bull-rush, but both are defined by the move and work other moves off of it.Bottom line: Basham’s motor makes him easy to root for. He plays at 100 miles an hour snap after snap with no regard for his body. That said, he’s not a natural on the edge by any means and is more of a bull in a china shop at this point. Basham is definitely one of the more intriguing mid-round pass-rushers at this point."

It’s worth noting that the Colts met with Basham at the NFL Combine.

It goes without saying, but the Colts desperately needed to come away with a young impactful pass rusher in this year’s NFL Draft.

While the team signed a pair of outside linebackers in free agency, Jabaal Sheard and John Simon, both players are more ‘energy and effort’ off the edge than natural pass rushers.

It sounds like Basham is in the same mold–at least initially, but in time, he could develop into more of a pure pass rusher. If nothing else, he’s a rotational pass rusher for the Colts next season–bringing instant energy and effort off the edge.

Next: Colts Select Florida Cornerback Quincy Wilson with 46th Overall Pick

Per Pro Football Focus, Basham’s 71 total pressures were the 5th most in the country last season, and he received a +87.3 pass rushing grade.

The Colts entered the NFL Draft looking to improve their defense and so far, all three of their picks have been on that side of the football. New general manager Chris Ballard means business defensively.

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