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6 Under the Radar Combine Attendees That Fit the Colts

6 of the lesser-known Combine players that fit Chris Ballard's mold.

Zach Hicks

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The 2024 NFL Combine is officially underway with workouts beginning this Thursday at 1:00 pm EST. Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts are set for another busy week in this pivotal offseason.

We have spent most of draft season pumping up the names of superstars such as Brock Bowers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Terrion Arnold as options for the Colts in the first round. Today, however, is going to be a little different, as I dive into six under the radar players to watch for the Colts this week.

This list of players isn't necessarily built around small school players, but more looking into names that are very realistic options for the Colts that fans simply haven't been discussing up to this point.

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Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State

Chris Ballard loves himself some small school players and Flournoy may be the perfect fit for the Colts. Flournoy was a two-year starter with the Redhawks, where he totaled 1,823 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns in 22 games played. He was a star at the Reese's Senior Bowl this offseason, earning praise from multiple media members in attendance.

Flournoy should put on a show in Indy this week. He was labeled as a Feldman's Freak for 2023 with a 41 inch vertical jump and 4.35 forty yard dash time prior to last season. If Flournoy is able to hit those numbers, along with his size and Senior Bowl production, it will be hard for Ballard to resist this small schooler in the 2024 draft.

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Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh

Another wide receiver prospect that should catch Ballard's eye is Pittsburgh's Bub Means. Means had a relatively productive college career, accumulating 90 receptions for 1,552 yards and 10 touchdowns in 36 career games played. He is likely more of a special teamer/project player in this upcoming draft but the traits are hard to deny.

Like Flournoy, Means was also a Feldman's Freak for the 2023 season. He is listed as running a 4.36 forty yard dash time and jumping around 39 inches in the vertical. This athletic receiver also had a strong week of Shrine practices this offseason, so he could be an outstanding Colts' late round option if he blows up the Combine this week.

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Myles Cole, DE, Texas Tech

There is no way that Ballard can resist a project as enticing as Cole. Cole is an older prospect in this draft class but his H/W/S potential at defensive end is absolutely insane. He measured in at 272 pounds at the Reese's Senior Bowl this offseason and had the longest arms (36 3/8 inches) and wingspan (87 inches) among all players in attendance.

Cole is a massive project in this class (just five career sacks in 44 career games) but Ballard is the exact type of general manager to bet on the traits with this prospect. Look for Cole to have an outstanding performance in Indy for the Combine this week.

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Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Hart may be flying under the radar a tad due to his ball production in college, but he fits exactly what the Colts like at the cornerback position. Hart boasts fantastic size (6'2" 204 pounds) and has the arm length that Gus Bradley wants in his cornerbacks (over 32 inches). He was a standout at the Senior Bowl as well, shutting down multiple top targets in the one on one sessions.

Hart is expected to have a monster week in Indy and that alone should bump him up draft boards across the league. If the Colts can overlook his two career interceptions in college, they could have a good cornerback fall into their laps on day two of the draft.

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Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

Another cornerback to keep an eye on this week is Oregon's Khyree Jackson. A former Alabama commit, Jackson transferred to Oregon in hopes of seeing the field more in his final season. This move paid off for Jackson, as he racked up three sacks and seven pass deflections in 2023 for the Ducks.

Jackson is a hyper athletic defender that should have a massive week in Indy for the Combine. He already stood out at the Senior Bowl so he, like Hart, should be able to solidify himself in the top 100 of the draft with a strong showing in Indy. His ball skills and leadership ability should make him a prime target for Ballard on day two of the draft.

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James Williams, LB/SAF, Miami

Colts' fans that enjoyed Ronnie Harrison Jr.'s shift to linebacker late last season should be a big fan of James Williams in this upcoming draft. Williams is a true tweener, weighing in at 230 pounds and playing safety at the college level. He would likely be a linebacker in the Colts' scheme, which is exactly what the team is looking for.

Williams has the ball skills and the movement ability to be a solid pass coverage linebacker in the NFL. Colts' DC Gus Bradley selected a similar player in Divine Deablo with the Las Vegas Raiders, which ended up being a massive win for his tenure with that team. In Williams, Bradley could have his Colts' version of Deablo subbing in at the WILL position on passing downs.

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Zach Hicks
ZACH HICKS

Zach Hicks is the Lead Analyst for HorseshoeHuddle.com. Zach has been on the NFL beat since 2017. His works have appeared on SBNation.com, the Locked On Podcast Network, BleacherReport.com, MSN.com, & Yardbarker.com. 

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