Could some hometown heroes from Indiana University’s freshly crowned College Football Playoff championship team become Horseshoe Heroes with the Indianapolis Colts?
About a dozen Indiana players get mentions in various mock drafts and previews. Several players from the national champion Hoosiers would provide a boost to the NFL team 55 miles to the north of Bloomington.
The NFL Draft is still almost three months away, but it’s not too early to break down which Indiana players would be perfect fits in blue and white, which ones will be unavailable by the time the Colts make their picks, and which Hoosiers might get better opportunities outside of the state of Indiana.
These Indiana Hoosiers could become great Indianapolis Colts
The bad news: Heisman winner won’t wear the horseshoe
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, would be a welcome addition to an Indianapolis QB depth chart that must be described as “uncertain” until proven otherwise. However, Mendoza be long gone from the draft board – probably as the top overall pick - by the time the Colts make their initial selection.
Catch a perfect fit
Two of the Hoosier wide receivers who caught the passes from Mendoza – Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. – would be ideal additions for Indianapolis, particularly since the Colts are unlikely to retain both Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Pierce is a free agent. Pittman might need to be released to create cap room.
Fans who watch the Hoosiers on Saturdays and the Colts on Sundays probably have already envisioned either Sarratt or Cooper filling Pittman’s role in particular.
Conditional pick
If Colts cornerback Chavarius Ward retires or is otherwise unavailable, Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds would be a logical replacement as a Day 2 selection. If Ward and Sauce Gardner are both back and healthy, then it would make more sense for the Colts to spend their draft capital to address other needs.
Getting defensive?
If two-time first-team All-American Aiden Fisher’s performance as a college player comes close to translating to the NFL, the Colts would welcome him in their linebacking corps. Fisher is a classic test case for performance vs. potential.
The Colts have sought a high-impact edge rusher for years. Could Indiana’s Mikail Kamara, the defensive MVP of the CFP championship game with a memorable blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown, be the answer? Kamara was one of the college football’s leaders in quarterback pressures this past season (though all those pressures resulted in just two sacks).
Hoosier safeties Louis Moore and Devan Boykin should be available on Day 3 of the draft and would be sensible additions for a position group that could use more depth.
Good players, wrong fits
Hoosiers center Pat Coogan should get NFL opportunities. He’d likely get more opportunities outside of Indianapolis, where Tanor Bortolini emerged as a capable starting center and is still on a rookie deal.
Indiana running back Roman Hemby could be a mid-round selection. However, with Pro Bowl back, Jonathan Taylor already on the roster, it doesn’t make sense for the Colts to invest one of their small collection of picks in a running back.
Bring ‘em to camp
Indiana players such as tight end Riley Nowakowski, running back Kaelon Black, receiver E.J. Williams Jr., offensive linemen Kahlil Benson and Zen Michaelski, and others might or might not hear their names called during the draft. The Colts would benefit from bringing as many of them as possible to training camp. You can never have too much championship experience in your building.