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Rookie Spotlight: T.J. Green

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp at Anderson University on July 26. As we get closer to the beginning of football season, Bullseye Event Group highlights rookie T.J. Green, a safety who helps to be a key contributor in the Colts’ quest for Super Bowl 51.

The Indianapolis Colts drafted safety T.J. Green out of Clemson in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, adding depth to a position that saw the loss of 2015 starter Dwight Lowery.

Green started as a true-freshman wide receiver with Clemson, before head coach Dabo Swinney moved Green to the safety position. There, Green would help lead a talented Clemson defense to the National Championship Game in 2015, before declaring for the NFL Draft.

NFL.com’s analysis of Green calls the rookie “speedster who had a few “walk down” tackles coming from way behind to make tackles on breakaways.” Green boasts a lightning-quick 4.34 40-yard dash, as well as a reputation of being a hard hitter.

Colts fans are hoping that Green can provide a Bob Sanders-esque hard hitting reputation to the Colts secondary, minus the injuries that plagued much of Sanders’ seven years in Indianapolis. Though many “experts” feel the Colts reached for Green in the second round, but the Colts have made it clear they were thrilled the safety was still there.

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Indianapolis Colts: Rounds 1-3

The road to Super Bowl 51 for the Indianapolis Colts will be heavily determined by what general manager Ryan Grigson does with the six 2016 NFL Draft selections the team had headed into the first round. We break down the first three picks for the horseshoe.

Round 1, Pick #18: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

The Colts finally got Andrew Luck his Jeff Saturday on Thursday night, taking all-american center Ryan Kelly from the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.

Kelly was a three year starter, including 2015’s national championship season. In the 2015 season, Kelly only allowed FOUR quarterback hurries and ZERO sacks.

Andrew Luck is the franchise, and the Colts made that clear on Thursday night, shoring up one of the biggest needs on the offensive line. Since drafting Luck in 2012, the Colts have had five different starters at center, none of which were drafted in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.

Round 2, Pick #57: T.J. Green, FS, Clemson

Indianapolis held the #48 pick in the draft, but traded with the Green Bay Packers to acquire two extra picks. That landed Indy at #57, where the Colts took speedy Clemson safety T.J. Green.

With Indianapolis set at the safety position with starters Mike Adams and second-year man Clayton Geathers, Green could see himself taking snaps at the cornerback position. Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, however, reiterated on Friday night Green was a safety.

Round 3, Pick #82: La’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech

The Colts continued to add bulk to their offensive line on the second night of the draft, taking 6’5″, 316-pound offensive tackle La’Raven Clark from Texas Tech.

While Clark could see time at the right tackle spot, he’s more likely to make the transition to offensive guard in the NFL, possibly ousting Hugh Thornton from a starting role.

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2016 NFL Draft: Indianapolis Colts

The 2016 NFL Draft serves as the second of leg of the offseason road to Super Bowl 51 in Houston. We preview the Indianapolis Colts’ many draft needs.

Offensive Lineman: Ryan Kelly, C (Alabama)

If the Indianapolis Colts choose to bolster their offensive line with the #18 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and center Ryan Kelly out of Alabama is available, general manager Ryan Grigson should not even think twice about taking the prospect.

Since Jeff Saturday’s departure in 2012, the Colts have struggled to find a decent starting center, juggling around names like Khaled Holmes, Jonotthan Harrison and even giving guard Hugh Thornton some snaps. A solid center to anchor the offensive line is the first step in the Colts’ pursuit of protecting quarterback Andrew Luck.

Linebacker: Noah Spence, OLB (Eastern Kentucky)

Should Indianapolis choose to fill their need at the linebacker position, many mock drafts have the Colts taking former Ohio State and Eastern Kentucky linebacker Noah Spence.

Following the loss of Jerrell Freeman to the Chicago Bears and releasing Jonathan Newsome, the Colts find themselves pretty thin at the linebacker position. Drafting a young and talented LB could also serve a smooth transition for the Colts whenever team sack leader Robert Mathis decides to hang it up.

Pass Rush: Shaq Lawson, DE (Clemson)

The Colts have been looking for that next great pass rusher on the line since losing Dwight Freeney in 2012 and moving Robert Mathis to outside linebacker.

Defensive end Shaq Lawson, of the national championship runner-up Clemson Tigers, would be a solid young defensive talent that, like Spence, would be allowed the opportunity to learn underneath the tutelage of Mathis and provide for a smooth transition, at the very least.