Stampede Blue
Here are five of the bigger names and/or sleepers who the Colts will likely covet throughout Senior Bowl week.
With various college All-Star events kicking off, it’s officially the start of the NFL Draft season.
While the East-West Shrine Bowl began its festivities this past weekend and the Hula Bowl doing so the week before that, the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off this week, which is essentially a culmination of said All-Star events.
The scene in Mobile, AL, will be littered with NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouting departments as far as the eye can see. These Senior Bowl rosters will include talent from nearly every level of college football, providing an opportunity for small-school guys to prove themselves in front of the decision-makers of their future.
While most participants will, at some level, talk with all 32 NFL teams, the Indianapolis Colts, under GM Chris Ballard, have proven to value the upcoming week as 30/74 draft selections (40.5%) during his tenure have been Senior Bowl participants. Similarly to recent trips, they are closer to the product than most this year. The Colts have four staff members set to coach at the Senior Bowl:
Matt Raich, American Team Defensive Coordinator, Colts Sr. Asst. DL Coach
Brent Jackson, American Team DBs Coach, Colts Def. Quality Control
Chris Watt, National Team TEs Coach, Colts Asst. OL Coach
Kalon Humphries, American Team LBs/EDGE Coach, Colts Tony Dungy Coaching Fellow
Senior Bowl practices are each of the next three days (1/28-1/30) with the game itself serving as the week’s conclusion on Saturday. Below are 5 participants who I believe the Colts will be heavily watching throughout the week.
Knight Jr. may just be exactly what the Colts are looking for in a linebacker next to Zaire Franklin. While 2nd-year LB Jaylon Carlies is set to prove himself for the spot in question, this team needs to add competition to as many position rooms as possible, and linebacker is no different.
He will be 25 years old on draft day, which will likely keep him from being a Top 50 draft selection; however, if there’s anyone to bet on despite their age, it’s the athletic linebacker who sits at 6’1”, 246 lbs and has an incredible backstory that keeps him going.
With JuJu Brents’ durability becoming a real concern as of late, the Colts would be wise to look in the direction of Azareye’h Thomas. Sure to be a high riser after the Senior Bowl, Thomas is a press-man specialist who is poised to make some noise this week, especially in 1-on-1 drills. At 6’2”, 195 lbs, Thomas is bound to showcase his lockdown traits in Mobile.
There’s no denying that Fannin Jr. is a fantastic receiving tight end who boasts top-tier run-after-the-catch ability. The MAC product finished the year leading the FBS in both receiving yards (1,555) and total receptions (117), becoming...
