Adetomiwa Adebawore Provides Colts a Wrecking Ball on DL
NFL teams are always looking for athletic and explosive defensive linemen to get after opposing quarterbacks.
With that in mind, it is hard to believe that one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the entire draft fell to the fourth round. Luckily for the Indianapolis Colts, that player was primed for the taking.
The Colts selected defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore with the No.110 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In four seasons at Northwestern, Adebawore tallied 97 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. While Adebawore did not have much communication with the Colts before the draft, he is happy to be heading to Indianapolis.
"I’ve only met with some of (the Colts) scouts through the Senior Bowl and the (NFL) Combine," Adebawore said on Saturday. "So, I’ve known a few of those scouts throughout this whole process and they seemed to always have that interest in me. So, I’m really excited to be a part of their team.”
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Adebawore has been described as a freak athlete throughout the draft cycle. He had one of the best performances at the NFL Scouting Combine out of any player. At 282 pounds, Adebawore ran a 4.49 40-yard dash with a 37.5-inch vertical and a 10'5" broad jump. A man that big should not be that fast and explosive.
Because of his stellar combine and showing out at the Senior Bowl, Adebaware was expected to go on Day 2 of the NFL draft in the second or third round. Instead, he fell to the fourth round on Saturday.
"It was obviously a surprise to me, but I’m just glad I have the opportunity now," Adebawore admitted. "I don’t know the reason I fell. It doesn't matter right now. Right now, the only thing I’m focused on is getting ready to be an Indianapolis Colt.”
Adebawore has experience playing up and down the defensive line at Northwestern. The Colts like players who can play inside and out as they get their best pass rushers on the field. Players like Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis have been valuable in Indy due to their position versatility.
The Colts believe Adebawore can be another player in that category. But when it comes to which position he will primarily play, it seems like inside at defensive tackle is where Adebawore will call home.
"I knew teams obviously have film on me as a defensive end and a defensive tackle," he explained. "It’s kind of evident that teams were seeing me more inside at the Senior Bowl because I played a lot inside and I think teams kind of saw me in this league, as a 3-technique. So, yeah. That’s kind of how this process has been.
“I feel like with the Colts, I don’t know where they’ll have me right now. I know they’re in a 4-3. So, I would guess 3-technique.”
Below is an excerpt from the 2023 Indy Draft Guide on Adebawore's fit with the Colts:
The Colts love for their defensive lineman to have position versatility so they can put them anywhere on the line to exploit matchups. That is what Adetomiwa Adebawore presents, a feisty and athletic defensive lineman who can get after the quarterback from anywhere on the line. His length is also an advantage to keep offensive linemen from getting their hands on him. While the Colts have much more pressing needs in the first couple of rounds, it’s no doubt the Colts would love having a player like Adebawore.
The 3-technique defensive tackle for the Colts is All-Pro DeForest Buckner. Obviously, Adebawore is not replacing Buckner on the Colts' defensive line. However, he will provide depth behind Buckner and can bring a fierce pass-rushing presence when Buckner comes off the field.
© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Even if he is behind Buckner, Adebawore prefers rushing from the inside. He thinks it fits his skillset better, allowing him to play free and use his explosiveness to his advantage.
“I probably prefer to be inside," Adebawore confirmed. "It’s a lot less thinking, I think – at least in the college level ... So I would say (my) interior pass rush, my get off, my relentless attitude and everything. Obviously, people see it on the field, but the reason I’m going to be able to do what I do on the field is how I take care of myself off the field and the things I do to prepare for those moments.”
Regardless of where Adebawore is playing on the Colts' defensive line, he is ready to be a sponge as he soaks up all the knowledge he can. His athleticism gives him a leg up on most, but Adebawore knows he can not solely rely on his God-given ability. He will need to continue working hard to reach his ceiling.
“Man, everything," he said when asked what he wants to improve upon. "Making sure my body’s prepared, conditioning, obviously technique. I have to work on my technique in all facets of the game. How to take on the run, how to approach the pass. I need to learn everything.”
Adebawore is coming into the NFL hungry and ready to prove people wrong. He wants to prove he should have been taken much earlier in the draft. Thankfully for Indy, Adebawore will get the chance to prove the league wrong while wearing the Horseshoe on his helmet.
More Colts Draft Picks
- Round 1 Pick 4: QB Anthony Richardson - Florida
- Round 2 Pick 44: CB Julius Brents - Kansas State
- Round 3 Pick 79: WR Josh Downs - North Carolina
- Round 4 Pick 106: OT Blake Freeland - BYU
- Round 5 Pick 138: CB Darius Rush - South Carolina
- Round 5 Pick 158: S Daniel Scott - California
- Round 5 Pick 162: TE Will Mallory - Miami
- Round 5 Pick 176: RB Evan Hull - Northwestern
- Round 6 Pick 211: DE Titus Leo - Wagner
- Round 7 Pick 221: CB Jaylon Jones - Texas A&M
- Round 7 Pick 236: OT Jake Witt - Northern Michigan
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