The Indianapolis Colts have a budding star in Laiatu Latu, but they still don't have a well-established pass rusher to start opposite him. Jaylahn Tuimoloau might turn out to be that guy, but the jury is still out on him.
General manager Chris Ballard rolled the dice on Florida's George Gumbs Jr., a WR-turned-DE with otherworldly athleticism and physical tools who's still learning the ropes of the position and didn't put up big numbers in college.
However, after watching him turn heads in training camp and even make plays in the preseason opener, he might not be just a developmental pick after all. When asked about his approach to the game, he summed up why the Colts may have no choice but to get him on the field in 2026.
George Gumbs Jr. is making big strides for the Indianapolis Colts
“I brand myself as a high-effort player that plays violent,” Gumbs told the Indy Star.
Gumbs worked closely with former pass rusher and assistant coach Chuck Smith to work on his moves. Per the rookie, he helped him keep things simple and let him know that he didn't have to add a ton of fancy moves to his repertoire:
“We’ve done the same moves since the 1980’s. Same cross-chop, same stab. It’s just about getting better with your hand placement, what I’m keying, whether it’s the arm, the wrist, the elbow, am I trying to get to the shoulder pad?” said Gumbs.
He certainly looked the part in his first taste of NFL action, taking the field with the first-team unit in the kicking game and even recording two tackles and one sack. That may have let defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo know that he might have earned extended looks in five-man fronts.
Gumbs didn't do much in college, which isn't much of a surprise, given that he had to switch positions. He logged just 3.0 sacks in two seasons, though he showed flashes of great play in coverage — again, not a surprise because of his history as a wide receiver.
Even so, his physical tools simply can't go unnoticed. The Colts took him after watching him post a whopping 41-inch vertical jump and run a 4.66-second 40-yard dash. Granted, there's much more to the game than athleticism and strength, but it's been pretty clear that his traits translate perfectly to the game.
More importantly, he's attacking his development with the same relentless violence he plays the game with, and he's the type of guy who can go from 0-100 in the blink of an eye. No stops, no half-hearted effort, no plays off.
The Colts' pass-rushing unit left plenty to be desired last season, and it's clearly still a work in progress. Even if Tuimoloau takes a big leap — which looks like a big if after an underwhelming camp — they still lack depth behind Arden Key and Micheal Clemons.
The bar isn't that high, and Gumbs seems to be ahead of schedule. If he continues to make plays in the next couple of weeks, the Colts may not have a choice but to change their plans and give him a longer leash right out of the gate.
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