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Colts Eye FCS Star Cornerback With Elite Testing Numbers

The Indianapolis Colts are one of several teams interested in this Stephen F. Austin product.
Sean Ackerman|
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defensive back Charles Demmings (21) intercepts a pass as Jacksonville State Gamecocks take on Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks during the FCS Kickoff at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022.
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks defensive back Charles Demmings (21) intercepts a pass as Jacksonville State Gamecocks take on Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks during the FCS Kickoff at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Indianapolis Colts

The NFL draft is inching closer, and the Indianapolis Colts are continuing to meet with prospects as they prepare for a decisive 2026 campaign. Colts general manager Chris Ballard has seven draft picks to work with, but will once again be without a first-round selection.

Ballard has expressed interest in trading back for more picks, something that he's done often throughout his tenure in Indy. Ballard loves to take a chance on Day 3 prospects, especially ones with elite testing numbers. Recent reports suggest that the trend will continue.

According to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson., the Colts will meet with Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings ahead of next month's draft. Demmings will also meet with the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins.

In 42 career games, Demmings totaled nine interceptions and 35 passes defended, finishing as the school’s all-time leader in pass breakups. Demmings also attended this year's Senior Bowl.

At February's combine, Demmings ran a 4.41s 40-yard dash, had a 42-inch vertical leap, and an 11-foot broad jump. Those numbers earned him a 9.97 RAS score, ranking him 10th among all cornerbacks since 1987.

Those athletic traits are exactly what Ballard has bet on in the past, and it would make sense to take a chance on them again with a Day 3 pick.

That combination of size, length, and explosiveness shows up on tape. He’s fluid in coverage, shows burst closing on routes, and has the recovery speed to survive against vertical threats. He has good instincts in zone coverage, but he could improve at using his hands to limit receivers in press-man coverage.

Colts' Current Cornerback Situation

As of early April, the Colts have one of the best cornerback rooms in the league. Starting on the outsides are Sauce Gardner and Mooney Ward. There were some retirement concerns regarding Ward, but it seems that the former All-Pro wants to return for a second season in Indy after suffering three concussions last year.

Behind those two sit Justin Walley and Cam Taylor-Britt. Walley was forced to sit out his first season at the professional level with an ACL tear, and Taylor-Britt will be looking for redemption in a new city after dealing with some legal troubles.

The Colts have a deep cornerback room, but they could always use another face to add in the mix. It doesn't make much sense to use high-value draft capital on a corner, but a player like Demmings should still be on the board in round five or six. At that point, if the Colts believe in his football IQ and ability to jump from the FCS level to the NFL, then it's worth the risk.

Additionally, lining up against elite receivers isn't the only thing he'll need to do. Cornerbacks can play an important part in the run game as second-level tacklers, which is an area that Demmings could improve in.

We'll see how the Colts attack the draft in a few weeks, but for now, they're continuing to express interest in gifted athletes.

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Sean Ackerman
SEAN ACKERMAN

Sean Ackerman is the co-Deputy Editor of Indianapolis Colts on SI. Ackerman, a graduate of Western Kentucky University, majored in broadcasting. He's in his third year covering the NFL.

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