Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - DARK HORSES: Which Indianapolis Colts Players Aren't Being Talked About Enough?

Starting point is 00:00:01 Wide receivers, Ashton Doolan and Nick Westbrook Akina are two dark horses to watch for the Indianapolis Colts in 2026. Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to Locked on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur. In today's episode, the theme is all dark horses, guys who are kind of long shots or maybe not talked about the

Starting point is 00:00:37 enough from national media or even the Colts fan base in general, but these are players that could have a big impact on 2026 and could surprise some people in training camp and into the early parts of the season. So we're going to break it down from offense to defense. And then in the final segment, Jake and I are going to go down memory lane and talk about some of our favorite dark horses, like undrafted free agent, like camp body type dark horses that we fell in love with in the past. and who are some early contenders to steal our hearts this year in training camp. But let's kick it off with offense here, Jake, and our two top guys that we're going to talk about compete with each other

Starting point is 00:01:14 for a spot on the team or kind of a spot in the starting lineup. But I'm going to go with Ashton Doolin with my first guy here. I just, Ashton Doolin has been working for so long for this opportunity, right? One of the longest tenured players on the team, a star special teamer. Every time he gets a shot on offense, you see him produce. whether it's blocking, getting those scheme touches on like end-or-rounds or like wide-receiver screens. And then last year he flashed him deep ball ability too when he got his chance against the Las Vegas Raiders and had that huge catch down the sideline. Also another big catch against the Chiefs as well in that game.

Starting point is 00:01:49 So, you know, Ashton Doolin, I don't think he's going to have like a huge season, like at most like 20, 30 catches on offense. But those would be career highs for him. And I think he could really step in and be like a really good utility wide receiver. for them. So there's no player that's earned this more than Ashton Doolin coming from Malone University, a team that doesn't have a football program anymore to where he is currently in the NFL. This guy has fought and climbed for everything in this league. And I'm excited to see what he can do with an opportunity where maybe he's not like a full-time starter for the Colts, but being in that competition to get more snaps on offense, I think he can take it and run with it because he does

Starting point is 00:02:28 everything at such a solid level. It's very like Zach Pascal back in the day for the Colts. but with a little bit more juice. So I think Ashton Doolin can be just a perfect utility player for this offense. And I think people are sleeping on him a little bit. It's kind of a throwaway name, but he's always performed when he's gotten the chance. So it's just time for him to get a couple more chances this year. Yeah, he just got inducted into either Malones or like whatever division that is that Malone used to play in their Hall of Fame recently.

Starting point is 00:02:57 So good on him. Yeah, I totally agree with that one. He's kind of the first one that comes to mind. I do think he has a career year, and that doesn't mean gaudy statistics, just like the most productive year for him to date. You mentioned, you know, the big play against the Raiders and everything. The one I always play back in my mind is 2024 opening week. Anthony Richardson has all those crazy plays. That, I think, 53-yarder, deep end-breaking route to Ashton Doolin, threading a needle with Doolin doing half the rest of the work, winning a foot race for a touchdown.

Starting point is 00:03:31 that was huge for me. That guy, like, we know he's super athletic, showed off the speed, the ability to make a big catch in traffic while not, you know, breaking down at all, like keeping up his trajectory. So he's a talented guy. He's always been a kind of a downfield playmaker,

Starting point is 00:03:50 so I think we'll probably see some shorter stuff from him for the first time. But in general, like, he's going to get more opportunities to make big plays because that's kind of what he's been used for. throughout his career. So I like that one. I'll stick with offense here. And we're guilty of this one just as much as some of the fan bases. But when we're talking about that third receiver role, Nick Westbrook Akina would kind of leave him out a bit. And I think, you know, Ashton Doolin's going to get the first shot at it. And then of course, Dionne Burks is the shiny new toy, but they didn't bring Westbrook Aquina in here for nothing. And he was a guy who I said, I didn't love the free agent class of receivers. But if you're going to bring someone in, you bring in like a cheap guy like a Nick Westbrook, Akeena, and then they ultimately did.

Starting point is 00:04:38 I think as a baseline, this is a guy who could compete to be the gunner, one of the gunners. We don't know if Ashton Doolan's going to keep doing that or not. But that's something he certainly did when he was with the Titans. But he's played productive football in his career, not with Miami last year, but with Tennessee before. You know, he's had like four or five hundred yards seasons. He had nine touchdowns in 2024. with Tennessee. He's a big-bodied guy that does some of the dirty work, and he's always been able to win downfield as well. So even if he doesn't win outright that third receiver spot,

Starting point is 00:05:12 I still think he, if he makes the roster, is going to be able to make plenty of plays. This is just a really kind of weird position group to figure out because now there's so many guys competing for just a few spots, it seems. Yeah, Doolin and Westbrook Aquina kind of feel a similar vibe in the offense, which is like come in here, work your butt off, maybe get a target or two. But for the most part, you're going to either be like a decoy or a blocker on a lot of steps. But both those guys have done that in their career. So I think they're both capable of filling that role.

Starting point is 00:05:44 It's kind of like the lesser version of the Pittman role last year. But I think they could both do it at a decent level for the Colts. This has kind of been my week so far as talking about this player. But McSolves, the right guard for the Colts, starting right guard. So weird to put him as like a dark horse. but I still think a lot of people are kind of sleeping on him with the selection of Jalen Farmer in this past draft, right? Everyone's kind of assuming that Farmer could step in from day one and start at right guard or, you know, at some point this year, Farmer is going to take over that spot for Gonzalez, but Gonzalez played some pretty good ball last year.

Starting point is 00:06:19 I think we're underrating how good of a season it was for him. It wasn't like he was like a Pro Bowl guard or anything like that. It was very like middle of the road. but for a guy who had never played guard before in his entire life, had to step in there and start at the NFL level for pretty much every game, I thought it was rock solid, right? And he even said recently when you guys talked to him, like he learned throughout the year, like it was a feeling out process,

Starting point is 00:06:44 playing next to guys he's never really played against in Tanner Bordellini, and just kind of feeling out how to play that position. And he even realized, like, hey, I got to get bigger and stronger coming into this next year. So he added that weight. And that doesn't always mean that you're going to be better the next season. But I think acknowledging where your shortcomings were last year and then adding to it in the offseason is a big part of that training regimen. So him coming in here at 330 pounds, 6.6. The pass blocking was already really good last year.

Starting point is 00:07:12 And I think the run blocking can improve if he can show a little bit more power and torque on the inside. So yeah, Consolvis has all the pieces that you want to be a really good guard. and he showed a lot of good things last year before him, like the rest of the offense, kind of hit a little bit of that lull in the middle of the season. But I think he can be an above average starting right guard this next season and really hold on to that job for the next two years and make Jalen Farmer just the high-level backup for the next two years here in Indy.

Starting point is 00:07:41 So, yeah, I think we're sleeping on Gonsalves a little bit. If we follow the trajectory of Will Fries and Berenhardt Riemann, when they were working under Tony Sprano Jr., it's usually that third year that we see that break. out, I think Consolves is right on track where they want him to be. And now that he's, again, fully adjusted to that guard position, I think we're going to see an even better version of him this year. So I, you know what, my hot take, I guess, I fully expect him to be like a top 10 to 12

Starting point is 00:08:08 pass blocking guard in the league this year. He was that good last season as a pass blocker, especially when he was able to jump guys and get on them with his, with his physicality and his athleticism. So I expect him to be a really good pass blocking guard. We'll see if the run game can come around a little bit, but I'm really high on Mack and Sawvis going into his third year with the Colts. Yeah, I like that one. Again, he at worst was an average starting guard last year.

Starting point is 00:08:34 He knows exactly what he needed to work on. He told us, like, he had a tendency to kind of overreach on guys that he was going up against. That was part of his adjustment going from tackle to guard. He added 10 pounds of muscle. He's up overall from 317 to 330 now. So the guy's really leaning in to being a guard. I think he did the necessary work to take his game to another level. So I like that one.

Starting point is 00:09:03 Mine real quick before we wrap up this segment on offense, I'm looking for another running back to stand out besides Jonathan Taylor. You know what I mean? We know Jonathan's going to get his. But also he saw a ton of work last year. I think last year was the second most touches he's had. a year. So, you know, there's not Amir Abdullah this year. There's not Tyler Goodson. Both those guys are gone. So you need someone else to come in. DJ Giddens could do something. But I think Seth McGowan

Starting point is 00:09:33 comes in and I think he just fits what they're looking for a bit better. I think he is just a more decisive, violent runner than Giddens is. Gidding is more of a patient guy, relying on blocking and vision, which could be productive if you're going to have over 10 to 12 carries in a game. You know what I mean? But I think a guy like McGowan, you give him some touches and short yardage on the goal line. His impact will be felt right away in that. They think they're going to be able to get him to play a little bit of special teams, which will get him active on game days if he can stick there.

Starting point is 00:10:09 Really interested to see if either of these guys will do anything in pass pro. I think they're both just, you know, they're fine, whatever as past catchers, they can do it, but it's not some, it's not an area they really stand out. So whatever their small niche role is that the Colts need them to fill, one of those guys needs to step up and do it. And I think Seth McGowan fits a little bit. He could be a guy that gets, you know, Voltures like four or so short yardage touchdowns from Taylor this year. Jonathan Taylor, fantasy football owners crying right now. Coming up, we're going to talk about some dark horses on defense. some in the trenches, some in the secondary, before we get to our final segment where we talk about our

Starting point is 00:10:48 bottom of the roster guys. But next up is defense. The NBA playoffs are here and every possession matters. If you're looking to get even closer to the action, Vandal has a great offer to get you started. Right now, new customers can bet $5 and you're going to get $150 in bonus bets if that first bet wins. That's right. Turn five bucks into $150 in bonus bets just for getting started. I like using Fandul during the playoffs just because everything I need is right there in one spot. You can check stats, trends, and matchups before making your picks, which makes the entire experience feel a lot more informed. The app is really easy to navigate as well, very user-friendly, and it makes playoff basketball even more engaging from start to finish. If you are full-on

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Starting point is 00:12:01 or add free audio episodes and access to a group chat with other listeners of the show, Zach and me. We got a couple new guys in there that seem great to talk to. We would love to have you guys join as well, just tap the link in the show notes or go to lockdown colts. supercast.com to join today. All right, Zach, so defense, I love the whole defensive part of it because so much of the defense is open.

Starting point is 00:12:25 You know what I mean? Like everything defensively seems up for grabs. So who do you got here that's going to stand out? Yeah, I think my biggest name that was on my list is Atatamiwa, Atabore. Now, I think you and I have had him on our dark horses list for last like four years with the Colts, you and I have been very, very big fans of his. since the coach drafted him a couple years ago. And we've seen this steady climb in his play, right?

Starting point is 00:12:48 From barely getting on the field his first two years, a little bit of special teams here and there, to finally hitting career numbers across the board under Luana Rumo last season. But I still think there's another gear that he could get to. You know, I think the sacks he got were solid last year, right? I think it was like four or five sacks, which is just a rock solid from a player in his role.

Starting point is 00:13:07 But I think he can be like a six, seven, maybe even eight-sac guy in the right rotation. and, you know, he can finish some plays in the backfield. There is just so much juice in his game, so much explosion, so much speed. And if you were just to do a highlight reel of his splashes last season, they would rival some of the best interior pass rushers in the league. It's about turning those splashes into more production, which he did last year, but I still think, again,

Starting point is 00:13:32 there's one more step that he can go. But I think he's a bit of a dark course because, you know, the big addition to Kobe Wooden, DeForest Buckner coming back, he's kind of an afterthought right now. but going into a contract year, coming off of the best season of his career, it seems like all signs are pointing up. If the Colts get him out there for a good chunk of those pass rushing snaps this year, I think we could be sitting in a situation where it's like,

Starting point is 00:13:55 oh, man, we've got to pay out of Tommy Wadabora at some point. So I think he's a big dark horse just for the defensive success this year. Like if you want to keep Buckner more fresh, if you want to keep Grover more fresh, get Tommy a lot of these past rushing situations, and I think he's going to thrive. So I would argue, like, outside of Buckner and Latu, he's probably the past rusher I feel best about on the roster right now. And I think he can have a huge year. And if he does have that big year, it'll make the defense as a whole so much better.

Starting point is 00:14:23 So, yeah, I think we're sleeping on Tommy a little bit this year because the signs are all pointing up. And I think he's ready for another big season this year under Luana Rumo. Yeah, I think everyone has been and might continue to be sleeping on him because it's like you forget about him. And then you're like, geez, who's this dude who just flew off the snap and is in the quarterback's grill, like before he's even been able to hand it all? Like his burst is just really unrivaled. It's fun to see you hope everything comes together to kind of make him a more complete player. So this next guy, to me, he's basically like the defensive version of Nick Westbrook Aquina this year. It's Akeem Davis Gather.

Starting point is 00:15:02 So everything is C.J. Allen, Bryce Becher. We're all excited about these new guys and what they can mean to the future. Devin Barris-Duke, right, Jake? Devin-Beris-Won-We're going to get there. Don't worry. We'll get there in the next segment. But no, Akeem Davis-Ga-Ithor. I mean, he was polarizing to some Cardinals fans.

Starting point is 00:15:21 Like, everyone defensively for the Cardinals was, it was not great last year. But it was his most productive season so far as a pro is his first year really getting to be a full-time starter. And so it was a little bit of a breakout form. He was pretty productive. So he did that under Jonathan Gannon last year. So he's got all this experience now. And now he gets to reunite with Lou Anna Rumo. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:15:47 I think we should see the best that Akeem Davis Gather has to offer this year. Just as long as Bryce Betcher doesn't come in, blow the doors off and win the starting will spot. I think we're going to see quite a bit of Davis Gather. Like we should see, what, 800 plus snaps from him, 750 plus snaps from him. So this guy has. has every opportunity to make a big impact. And it's not unlikely that he is the more impactful player than a rookie C.J. Allen in year one. Is it unlikely?

Starting point is 00:16:16 Because, like, Allen is a more complete, better prospect, you know, and Akeem Davis Gather has had, what, five, six years to really grab hold in the NFL. But that doesn't mean he can't be somewhat useful. So I do think he's going to be someone who we haven't really been talking much about in the offseason, but we could be like, oh, man, he's, been a really solid addition. Like Jermaine Pratt last year. Was he perfect? Absolutely not. But was he a breath of fresh air compared to what was happening before? Absolutely. So I like the impact that Davis Gather might be able to bring the Colts. Yeah, I thought he was better than Jermaine Pratt's film last year when I compared both of them.

Starting point is 00:16:55 Which is good. A lot of people wanted Pratt back. Yeah, I thought he was, I think he's better fit for what the Colts want at that outside backer spot, that will backer spot. So yeah, I'm pretty high on Kim Davis Gather. I think you'll be like a league average starting line. for them, which is perfectly fine. I would take league average after what we saw the first, like, months of that season, you know? So I would gladly take that out of him. My next dark horse, I just can't quit this guy yet, man. Jonathan Edwards, height weight speed guy, and we joke about this all the time on the show.

Starting point is 00:17:26 I'm sure someone can make a compilation of me saying it like 30 times. But if he could just find the football, he would have been a very good corner last season. He was always in position because he's got the speed in the, ability to be there with any pass catcher. It's just locating that football. That's going to be the big thing for him. In some corners, they never figure it out. So I'm not saying that it's a given that he's going to figure it out.

Starting point is 00:17:48 But I think there is a lot of potential in him to be a good outside corner. And he's kind of being slept on right now because people are looking at Cam Taylor Britt because of the name or Jalen Jones because of the past. But I don't know. I could see this coaching staff liking Edwards more than those two guys because the last we saw of all these guys, I think Edwards played better on the field, you know, of all three of those players. Not to say that's going to continue through training camp, but we'll see what Edwards can build upon going into this year. But great size, great speed, great athleticism. You can tell

Starting point is 00:18:21 watching even in the preseason and also in a little bit in the regular season that he's a guy who takes coaching points really well and runs through a lot of what like coaches want you want to see players do. Like his eyes are rarely in the wrong spot. It's just he can't find the football. That's the biggest thing and separate man from balls. So it's a big ask still for him to make that adjustment because you can't play corner if you can't locate the ball. But he's got everything else. So I'm still willing to bet on this guy. I like the potential that he has.

Starting point is 00:18:48 Hopefully we see some growth from him in year two because I want to see him on this roster if he has a good training camp again for the Colts this year. Yeah, that's a good one. I think he's got everything you want. And if you could just get him playing confidently and comfortably, then you could have a really good player in there because he's got the size to be a really physical player against the run and everything. And again, if his awareness ticks up in the past game,

Starting point is 00:19:14 well, then all of a sudden you might start taking the ball a couple times away as well. So that's a good one. My final one, someone, no one ever talks about Tim Smith. And you know what? If Tim Smith makes it and he is a boring player, I am so for it. He was a boring but productive player.

Starting point is 00:19:33 at Alabama. And if he's boring with the Colts and backs up Grover Stewart adequately and just eats up space and it's hard to run the ball against, my man, perfect. You've made it. You've done exactly what you're supposed to. That's all the Colts need to back up Grover Stewart. You're not looking for someone with much pass rush juice, although if they can provide it, sure. Just be someone that can go out there to relieve Grover Stewart, you know, several times a And when you're on the field, the opponent doesn't smell blood in the water and run right down your throat. Because we've seen that before from the backup one tech. Just again, there was nothing spectacular about his Alabama film.

Starting point is 00:20:17 You just see him in there unmovable, basically, because he's just a big stout guy. He has the benefit of being kind of cooking on the practice squad for a year. So now is the time to do something. They had their shot with Eric Johnson. and he was a real athletic, strong guy. It didn't pan out. I'm cool with Tim Smith being a boring, capable player, you know. Yeah, I'd be fine with Tim Smith or Cam Ball making the team his backup one tech,

Starting point is 00:20:43 because that means one of these veterans didn't make it behind Grover Stewart. But that's, again, my rant that I do every single day. Coming up, Jake and I are going to go down memory lane and talk about some of our past training camp darlings that maybe didn't really work out for the Colts. Because this is a tradition on lockdown Colts. Jake and I always fall in love with a couple of players. It's like a one in a million chance to see them actually make the team. But every now and then, we do get one right.

Starting point is 00:21:09 So we're going to go down memory lane and talk potential guys who could catch our eye in training camp. You've already heard a couple of Jakes throughout the off season. But we're going to talk about even more here in just a second. Support for today's episode comes from Square, the system that helps fix one of the biggest headaches in running a business. Starting a business is exciting, but actually running it, that's where things can get a little complicated and fast payments inventory staff scheduling online

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Starting point is 00:22:50 All right. Welcome back, everybody. All right. So if you have been following Zach and I for a while, you know that in the words of Sandra D from Greece, we get hopelessly devoted. to some of these bottom of the roster guys sometimes every year. Well, it's not sometimes. It's every year.

Starting point is 00:23:11 Do they have a chance at making the roster? Often not. But you know what? We fall head over heels in love with these guys. Zach, take us through some of your greatest hits and how they actually turned out. Yeah. So, I mean, if we're talking greatest hits, I think my best call ever came back when I first started covering the team in 2018.

Starting point is 00:23:30 And part of this was because of my Washington bias. but Zach Pascall coming into camp was a training camp nobody that was kind of bouncing around with Washington. I loved him at O'DU, just a big physical receiver. I remember back in the day even saying like, oh, I think the Colts could even play him at running back. He's like 220 pounds, like big body guy. He ends up making the team and having a couple 600-yard seasons with the Colts and turned out a really solid career. Now, since then, it's been all downhill. Like, it just hasn't, I haven't had many hits since then.

Starting point is 00:24:02 I guess Jonathan Edwards last training camp, I kind of had a hit with that because I did really like him. But some of my favorites over the years, Chris Sean Hogan, I think was everyone's favorite back in like 2018. Yeah, from Indy, 2018, like 2019. I think he played a little bit with the Saints after he left Indy. But Chris Sean Hogan, I think we all loved in camp. I always liked him actually more than like Dereyce Fountain and Dionne. I just thought he was more of an NFL guy than those guys. He stuck around for a while.

Starting point is 00:24:29 Yeah. Xavier Scott, the running. back out of Maine a couple years ago. So I'll head over heels for him as a player. He actually had some run with the Vikings here the last couple years. So that was a big one. We all remember the Andre Sosheerae, Sacherayre. Sacheray, yeah, Sacheray.

Starting point is 00:24:47 Andre Sacheray, safety debacle of like 2020 or whatever it was, where we were all hoping he was going to make the team. He made the initial team and then he got cut before going on the field for practice the next day to make room for Bo P. Keyes, a legend that we'll never forget here in Indy. So Andre Sacheray was a big one. Went on to play for the Eagles. I think he won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, actually, after that.

Starting point is 00:25:12 Sterling Weatherford, another indie native at linebacker. I was so big a fan of him. He ended up being a special teamer for the Bears, but nothing special in this league. And then Andrew Brown, the UVA defensive tackle, very undersized, but very athletic and explosive. My love for Tommy basically comes from Andrew Brown, I think. because just the undersized past rushing defensive tackle.

Starting point is 00:25:35 But I really wanted him to make the team a couple years ago that just did not work out at all. You actually sent a huge list to me before we started recording, Jake. And I was also agreeing with most of the people you sent on there. Like, just some of the shoutouts I want to put on here as well. Like, Forrest Ryan is not going to make your list, but gosh, Forrest Ryan, you were all about it a couple years ago. And then we do, I think one of our better hits was Shagua Lube.

Starting point is 00:26:01 You and I were on Shigua Luby early, and he really hit for the Colts as a special team or so. Maybe we're a miss rate's not too bad, but who are five guys that really stand out for you, Jake, over the years covering this team? Yeah, so Dorese Fountain was an obvious one. He went out from Northern Iowa, I think, and was really good at the East West Shrine game. He was part of that mix of the height, weight speed receivers that the Colts were really getting. It was in vogue with the team at the time. And he was one of those guys that was a training camp superstar. Now, he had a devastating lower leg injury during training camp that really derailed what might have been, you know, a productive time for him.

Starting point is 00:26:46 He wound up getting on the roster at one point, the regular season roster. In the playoffs, too. Remember he had a target in the playoffs? Yeah, he dropped a wide open touchdown in a game that was basically over against the Chiefs. That's tough stuff. No, you say that. It would have been a one-score game going into the fourth if he caught that ball. Yeah, but I guess that makes it worse. That makes it worse.

Starting point is 00:27:08 But you know what? He went on to play for the Chiefs after. And then he was on the Bears as well. So he got a little run. I do believe he recently retired. But Fountain was a really exciting guy in training camp. A guy even further back, Titan Hale Hentges out of Alabama. He, now he was a victim of there just not being enough room.

Starting point is 00:27:30 room on the roster. I think he came through and there was like Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron and Moe. Like there just wasn't room. But he had a great camp that year. I was a solid blocker, but was just, I don't think he lost a single rep in one-on-ones during the entire training camp. The dude was automatic. And all along the same lines, Noah Tongue, I was a tight in who was a former volleyball player. I think Oregon State, he was someone, for some reason I got super enamored by him and I was like oh he's going to be like he's going to be a super athletic dude go up and get the ball did not it did not work out that way at all Isaiah land is someone you both and I really really liked I always thought he should have got

Starting point is 00:28:15 more of a chance now he actually was on the roster a bit he was just a healthy scratch a lot of the time went back to Dallas afterwards there's there's always going to be players where I think they would have been better, more productive had they just been used more. And he's someone I will kind of always go down swing and saying, like, just literally get that guy on the field more and it'll be fine because he was productive. Like he made plays when he was out there. I don't know how he's looked with Dallas, but I know here in Indy, he was always pretty solid.

Starting point is 00:28:48 And then I'll wrap it up with a pair of linebackers here. Skymore came in as a UDFA the same year they got Darius, Shack. Leonard and he actually wound up starting at my linebacker in week one because Anthony Walker had like a groin injury or something and he stuck around with the team for a couple years but he had some injuries that just kind of caused things to go downhill but I really liked Skymore that same year that that Leonard came out Joe Joe Doeman as well as my final guy God where did Jojo Domain play was it Nebraska Wisconsin? I think it was Nebraska yeah but he was he was a solid special teams player with the

Starting point is 00:29:26 for a year or so. I got the stanky boot off the roster, I think, in his second year. But I thought he was solid. He was good in past coverage during training camp. And, you know, he was a flash in the pan, but he made it briefly. If you're a linebacker that stops by the Colts in the off season, Jake will be a fan of you more often than not. That's usually how it works.

Starting point is 00:29:48 Beautiful segue. Beautiful segue. Let's get into a couple of early guys who might, who I think you and I are expecting to catch our eye. I'll first name off a couple guys that I think we have some overlap with and then I'll go into a couple of my guys for kick it to you before we close out the show. So I think we have some overlap with Ulysses Bentley

Starting point is 00:30:05 the fourth. We liked him a lot last off season. He ran really hard marinate on the practice squad last year. I think you and I are both hoping for the best out of him. And also Nolan Rucci, the offensive tackle from Penn State, the undrafted free agent, you and I certainly are big fans of him.

Starting point is 00:30:22 And I think we're both a little bit, just a little bit Mitchell Melton-pilled. I need to see more of his film first. But I'm intrigued by Mitchell Melton, the defensive end out of UVA. I saw some of his Ohio State stuff that really intrigued me. So I like him. But I'll give you the floor on Devin Veresuke real quick, because I know that's your new linebacker. That's your shiny toy at linebacker.

Starting point is 00:30:44 Yeah. No, Devin Verasuk, he was one of those, he's one of those random signings they make early in the offseason, a reserve future deal guy out of the CFL. but he was like a CFL like rookie of the year type player comes into the Colts you know the solid range is probably going to be able to at least in the preseason stop some things on outside runs and screen passes but really he's a special teams player but he's he's definitely someone I've got my eye on and I want to watch more of and if he doesn't pan out we'll act like I never brought him up there's no way we can act like that there's a digital footprint at this point it's a lot it's a lot

Starting point is 00:31:22 It's a lot. But in the same breath, a guy that I'm, I'm going to call myself par pilled with this one. I keep watching more Lincoln par film, the undrafted for agent out of Texas State. And I just don't know what I'm not supposed to like about him. He's a pretty good athlete. I don't think he's a great athlete, but he's pretty good. He's 5'9, 200 pounds, runs really hard, catches the ball well, above average and pass protection last year. at over 1,100 yards last season as well.

Starting point is 00:31:51 Like, why do I like Seth McGowan more than him? Like, what about Seth McGowan is really appealing to me? I know I'm poo-pooing on your first segment here, Jake. But, like... Well, that's just the running back group in general behind Taylor. There's no one to be in love with other than the small-time guys, really. Yeah, so like Lincoln Parr and Ulysses Bentley, I'm so intrigued by both them. I really want them to get a shot.

Starting point is 00:32:13 I don't know if they will. Lincoln Par has got, like, the least amount of guarantees on the roster. So he's probably the next guy getting cut here soon. But I'm intrigued by him. And two other guys, obviously, Byron Matos, the offensive lineman, just a big time freak. And I want to see Tony work with a guy like that. And then how can we leave this segment? Like this is the final parting note.

Starting point is 00:32:32 Can I really leave this segment without saying Coleman Owen? I mean, that was the running gag throughout all of last season was more Coleman Owen. So yeah, I really want to see more Coleman Owen in Training Camp because all jokes aside, I thought he looked really good last off season. And like if there's injuries that happen and the Colts aren't in love with Anthony Gould, honestly, even last year, I probably would have kept Coleman Owen over Anthony Gould going into the year. I'd be tempted to do it again this year if it came down to it. Like a backup slot, I think Coleman Owen's better equipped than Anthony Gould is for backup slot.

Starting point is 00:33:06 It's been solid, yeah. Yeah, I'm intrigued by Coleman Owen, man. Yeah, I like that. And I think he's someone who, he's kind of like Ethan Fernia. They'll be willing to keep him around for a couple years and give him a shot, do this and that. A couple more quick ones for me, Anderson Castle, if we're talking about low-in running backs. Guys, a battering ram short yardage guy. Like, he might get a couple touchdowns in the preseason and make people excited.

Starting point is 00:33:31 We've named every running back except for DJ Giddens on this day. I talked about DJ Giddens and his shortcomings last year. My last one, though, I do think you're on to something with talking about the return game, because the Colts brought in some guys who pretty deliberately are here to contribute as as returnmen. And I know of other people they were interested in the draft that didn't come about. But Raylan Sharp from Arkansas is super interesting. I'm very, very undersized.

Starting point is 00:34:02 Played at 100 schools. But he is like a seven time, seven time winner of like the Team USA track and field team. he's got some pretty interesting return ability, Samir Higgins as well from Duke. So those two guys are undersized, but lightning bolts with return ability. They may not, they're probably not going to make the roster,

Starting point is 00:34:27 but they might make some exciting plays in the preseason. It's Coleman Owen depth, okay? When Coleman Owen goes crazy this year and he's too valuable to have on special teams, then you can get the other guys out there for special teams. That's just the way it's going to be. Thank you all for, tuning into Lockdown Colts today. We'll be back yet again next week. So make sure you

Starting point is 00:34:45 subscribe and follow Lockdown Colts so you get all the latest episodes. And if you don't already, make sure you're following at Lockdown Colts at Lockdown, Koltz, too, on social media. If you never miss an episode, the Everyday Air Club is built for you, get us ad free plus members only Discord access and much more. Head to LockdownColts.com to join the club. If you're joining us on YouTube watching this video, leave a comment section, comment below in the comment section on your favorite training camp, darling. that didn't make the team. We're going to just leave that in the comment and nothing else,

Starting point is 00:35:14 just the player's name. And we'll have a bunch of dudes just yelling players names at each other. So leave that in the comment section below. Thank you all for tuning in. And we'll catch you guys back here next Monday.

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