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Notre Dame Pro Day: 5 Colts Takeaways
The Notre Dame Pro Day showed multiple players who could fit the Indianapolis Colts.
South Bend, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are amid another NFL offseason. For the 2024 campaign, Indy has needs at cornerback, safety, wide receiver, and other positions on their depth chart.
With the NFL Combine now in the books, colleges are hosting NFL scouts for their pro days so that teams can get an even closer look at the talent within the university walls. While several schools have the talent to help Shane Steichen's Colts in 2024, one university to check out is Notre Dame.
Multiple players from the Fighting Irish showed they could be fits for the Colts and have the skill sets to help Indianapolis fortify the gaping areas of the roster. Indianapolis has positions on its roster that multiple Fighting Irish could help solidify.
Players like cornerback Cam Hart, running back Audric Estime, offensive tackle Blake Fisher, and linebacker Marist Liufau fit the bill. I was at Notre Dame's pro day, and I'm breaking down what I saw by sharing five takeaways.
Colts Midwest Scout in Attendance
Midwest scout Mike Lacey represented the Colts at Notre Dame for the Pro day. While there wasn't a massive scouting presence to watch the Fighting Irish players, Lacey is a good enough source to grab plenty of intel. Plus, as with the Notre Dame Pro Day last year, Colts GM Chris Ballard doesn't send a lot of scouts to schools.
A Bradley CB Prototype
The aforementioned Hart fits the Gus Bradley type of cornerback prototype. Hart is 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds while also possessing 33-inch arms.
The Relative Athletic Score aligns with the type that Ballard could consider at defensive back. Along with his high-level athleticism, Hart showcased solid work in the Pro Day drills. If Hart is a Colt after the draft, it won't be a surprise with how well he can fit the defensive scheme.
An Intriguing RB Option
Estime had a less-than-ideal NFL Combine performance. His 4.71-second 40-yard dash time delivered a blow to his draft stock.
However, after having a rough Combine, Estime put on a show during Notre Dame’s pro day. He improved by placing a 4.54s 40 time on back-to-back attempts. This, along with smooth performances in running back drills, will raise his draft stock again.
Estime's new worth may put him out of reach for the Colts, but he would undoubtedly be an intriguing addition to a backfield with Jonathan Taylor and Evan Hull. Estime also believes in his ability to become the all-around running back the NFL demands in the modern game.
An OT Who Makes Sense
The Fighting Irish pro day featured the versatile offensive tackle, Fisher. While he needs to improve with adjusting angles and hip movement, he’s also a versatile player who might be able to assist Indianapolis with depth.
Colts fourth-round selection Blake Freeland had to step in and start during the 2023 season for both Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith. While Freeland struggled, he also faced the NFL’s nastiest pass-rushers almost weekly.
The Colts don’t want to mess around with not having talent behind the starters on the offensive line. Fisher makes sense for Colts offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. to develop. We’ll see if Fisher can be available later in the draft for Indy.
A Gap-Filler in More Ways Than One
Liufau is potential defensive fit for the Colts. The four-year college defender showed talent in coverage and making plays in his time in South Bend.
The areas of improvement that Liufau must focus on most are taking bad angles at tackles and being more efficient in one-on-one situations. The role that Liufau could have behind Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed could prove beneficial. Picking him up can make sense for Bradley’s defense and fill the gap of a true coverage linebacker on the roster.
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