Report: Colts Send Big Contingent of Coaches to Texas Pro Day
We have reached the part of the NFL draft cycle where pro days are taking place at schools across the country.
Pro days allow prospects to run through the various drills held at the NFL Scouting Combine on their home turf and with their college coaches. It is another opportunity to improve their testing scores one last time before the draft. For scouts, they get one final chance to see the prospects in action as teams begin finalizing their draft boards.
For some teams, much can be gleaned from who they send to these pro days. The Indianapolis Colts typically send their area scouts to cover most college pro days. But there are times when the Colts will send high-ranking front office members, or even coaches, to get a closer look at some of these prospects. When these members are spotted at pro days, it usually means the interest in players at these schools is very high.
So, when head coach Shane Steichen is at a pro day, Colts fans should take note.
Multiple reports have surfaced that Steichen was down in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday to observe the University of Texas pro day. Steichen was spotted having lengthy conversations with Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian throughout the event.
Steichen was not the only Colts coach in attendance on Wednesday. It was reported that Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne were also in attendance at the Texas pro day.
It is not normal for multiple coaches from the Colts to travel to the same pro day. To see the trio of Steichen, Cooter, and Wayne all in attendance signals the Colts hold significant interest in at least a few prospects from Texas, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The three Texas prospects on offense that stand out as fits for the Colts are Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, and Ja'Tavion Sanders.
Mitchell is a wide receiver whose name is quickly garnering more attention as the draft draws closer. At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Mitchell is an athletic freak who ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine with a 39.5-inch vertical. He is excellent at catching the deep ball and possesses an insane catch radius to bring in passes from all angles. Mitchell is seen as a first-round talent and could be in contention at No.15 for Indy.
Worthy is another wide receiver for the Longhorns with blazing speed. The 5-11, 165-pound Worthy broke the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine with an electric 4.21 time. Worthy was the more productive wide receiver at Texas and figures to be a field-stretching threat in the NFL. Worthy also figures to be a first-round selection in April and has a 30 visit scheduled with the Colts.
Sanders is a pass-catching tight end that can help spread the field. At 6-4 and 245 pounds, Sanders has decent size and speed to be a mismatch over the middle of the field against smaller defenders. While not the best blocker, Sander possesses the tools to improve in this area and be a good all-around tight end.
Mitchell, Worthy, and Sanders are all explosive athletes who would help make the Colts more dynamic on offense. All are expected to be drafted within the first two rounds, meaning the Colts will have to strike early if they want to add any of these players to the roster. With the contingent Indy sent to Austin today, one of these three could be an Indianapolis Colt in the near future.
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