Looking at the Colts UDFAs

Undrafted free agents generally fall into one of three groups: a) accomplished college players who went undrafted because of a flaw — like a terrible forty time, inadequate height or coming from a very low level of competition — or bad luck — like a major injury, transfer or position change  — made them undesirable in some way or another, b) players who are unlikely to be major NFL contributors, but have a single skill — like punt returns, wedge busting or short-yardage running — that could make them valuable role players should there be an extra roster spot available, and c) players who did not accomplish much in college, but are intriguing because of their size or speed or big arm or whatever — guys teams hope they can “coach up” into players.

This year, the Colts have some of all of that. Let’s take a look:

Jabin Sambrano WR Montana

Numbers: 5112/178/4.50pd

2011 stats: 40-836-1 kick returns, 36-632-10 receiving, 37-354-1 punt returns, 6-141-2 rushing, 1-0-0-0-0 passing

ColtPlay says: In a small school like Montana, Sambrano looks like Percy Harvin. But he lacks the size, strength and explosion to do what Harvin can in the pros. It would be an uphill battle for him to get much time on offense, but he’s a smart, natural runner with great lateral movement and toughness, so he could win the return job and serve as an extra wide receiver.

Griff Whalen WR Stanford

Numbers: 5104/185/4.55pd

2011 stats: 56-749-4 receiving

ColtPlay says: Nothing really stands out about Whalen as an athlete or football player except for his hands and determination. The fact that he, like Fleener, caught his collegiate passes from Luck certainly helps, but without any special-teams skills, he would have to really wow the coaches to win a spot as a slot receiver.

Jason Foster OG Rhode Island

Numbers: 6032/298/5.31pd

ColtPlay says:

An undersized guard who excels at pulling and hitting on the move — in spite of his timed speed — Foster could earn a practice squad spot.

Hayworth Hicks OG Iowa State

Numbers: 6024/329/5.35pd

ColtPlay says: Big as a mountain and about as mobile, Hicks would need to develop to be a backup and short-yardage blocker in the NFL. Still, as a big-time contributor at a big-time program, it's unlikely he's not an improvement on the Colts' recent set of back-up interior linemen.

Steven Baker OT East Carolina

Numbers 6074/301/4.91pd

ColtPlay says: This athletic former basketball center and shot putter is huge and has all the raw materials, but is still developing. A potential find if he can put on some more muscle and get some coaching time and reps, Baker has NFL left tackle potential — but it’s far off. He’s the very model of the guy you try to hide on the practice squad.

James Aiono DT Utah

Numbers: 6025/305/5.12pd

2011 stats: 1 tackle, 1 assist, 2 passes broken up

ColtPlay says: Usually when an unsigned free agent has just two tackles as a senior, it’s because he was injured or suspended or something. Not so with Aiono, who played in all 13 of Utah’s games last season, but just could not crack the starting lineup. He has great workout numbers, and projects as a 5-technique, but the Colts would have to get a lot more out of him than the Utes did for him to be of any value.

Chigbo Anunoby DT Morehouse State
Numbers: 6037/324/5.44pd
2011 stats: 26 tackles, 23 assists, 14-46 TFL, 3.5-26 sacks, 1-0-0 fumble recovery, 3 forced fumbles, 1 kick blocked, 1 safety
ColtPlay says: Anunoby is a huge and hugely strong prospect who terrorized small-school competition. Of course, it's  huge step up to the NFL and Anunoby will definitely need time to develop.


Kevin Eagan DE Endicott

Numbers: 6040/276/4.82pd

2011 stats: 53 tackles, 51 assists, 23-87 TFL, 8.5-54 sacks, 3-24-0 interceptions, 1 pass broken up, 3-0-0 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles

ColtPlay says: Eagan’s an interesting prospect not only because of his physical presence, but his outstanding collegiate production, even though it was at a tiny New England hoity-toity liberal arts college. I don’t see another Robert Mathis here, but Eagan will get a shot to see what he can do at strong outside linebacker (left end in passing situations), but may have to excel on special teams to earn a roster spot, allowing him to develop.

Chris Galippo LB USC

Numbers: 6014/241/4.87c4.79pd

2011 stats: 21 tackles, 26 assists, 3.5-11 TFL, 1.5-8 sacks, 1-3-0 interceptions, 11 passes broken up, 1-0-0 fumble recovery

ColtPlay says: The big question with Galippo is his health. Significant back injuries ate into his college career, and have to be monitored going forward. Even at full health, Galippo is not athletic enough to be a full-time NFL starter and his habit of missing open-field tackles in an effort to make a highlight-reel hit will not help him earn a spot on special teams. Still, the Colts are so weak at the spot, he could surprise. This is the kind of guy fans think is a shoo-in because they’ve heard of him, but the coaches may beg to differ.

Cameron Chism CB Maryland

Numbers: 5103/190/4.55pd

2011 stats: 29 tackles, 18 assists, 2-4 TFL, 3-100-2 interceptions, 11 passes broken up, 2-0-0 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble

ColtPlay says: If there’s such a thing as a safety in a cornerback’s body, then that’s what Chism is. As a great tackler who can shed and blitz, is comfortable in zones but shaky in man coverage, he plays like a safety. But he’s a lot shorter and lighter than you’d want a safety to be. Chism is a football player, no doubt, but it’s hard to figure out where to put him on defense. Is he a tough slot corner or an undersized free safety? I’m sure he’d help on special teams, but he may struggle to find a spot on defense. Could well be a practice squad stash, but that might just be prolonging a hard decision. Still, he's exactly the kind of kid you want to see succeed.

Antonio Fenelus CB Wisconsin

Numbers: 5082/190/4,68c4.50pd

2011 stats: 33 tackles, 18 assists, 3-7 TFL, 4-10-0 interceptions, 14 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble

ColtPlay says: A natural cover man, Fenelus may not have the size or speed to compete in the NFL. The fact that he’s not really all that enthusiastic about stopping the run certainly doesn’t help his cause.

Buddy Jackson CB Pittsburgh

Numbers: 6001/187/4.37pd

2011 stats: 23-534-1 kick returns, 23 tackles, 11 assists, 0.5-3 TFL, 4 passes broken up 1-0-0, fumble recovery

ColtPlay says: Jackson’s not that much of a defensive back, but he’s a very good return prospect and an excellent special-teams gunner. It’s probably too much to ask the football gods to hope Jackson will develop into a serviceable NFL corner, but his special-teams prowess could earn him a roster spot — but it’s a crowded position.

Micah Pellerin CB Hampton

Numbers: 6003/194/4.61c

2011 stats: 29 tackles, 22 assists, 4.5-14 TFL, 4-58-0 interceptions, 15 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble,

ColtPlay says: Pellerin has great coverage skills, but lacks long speed, can be thrown around by bigger receivers and is not a big-time tackler. Depending on how physical the new staff expects their corners to be, Pellerin could have a shot.

Matt Merletti SS North Carolina

Numbers: 5100/200/4.59pd

2011 stats: 24 tackles, 12 assists, 1-4 TFL, 2-8-0 interceptions, 4 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles

ColtPlay says: Of all the Colts’ UDFAs, Merletti is the most NFL-ready. If you can forgive a lack of top-end speed and look past his checkered durability, Merletti’s actually a pretty good NFL safety prospect. He’s certainly good enough to compete with the David Caldwells, Mike Newtons and Joe Lefegeds of the world.

Brian Stahovich P San Diego State

Numbers: 5117/217/DNP

2011 stats: 61-2,669-11 punting, 1-1-5-0-0 passing

ColtPlay says: Stahovic is a strong-legged punter with surprising athleticism. The problem for him is that the Colts already have a stronger-legged punter with even more outstanding athleticism in Pat McAfee. Unless something untoward happens, the best the Colts can hope for is that Stahovic is so good in preseason that they can trade him for a draft pick like they did Dan Stryzinski in 1988.