INDIANAPOLIS — Dallis Flowers never lacked confidence.
It didn’t matter that he attended four colleges, none at the Division I level. It didn’t matter that his name wasn’t called among the 262 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. It didn’t matter that he’d have to take the long way to reach his dream.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-1 cornerback still thought he belonged in the NFL, and when the Colts contacted him, he took full advantage. Flowers signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in April 2022 and turned enough heads to make the 53-man roster.
By season’s end, Flowers took home the kickoff return crown with a league-high 31.1 yards per return (minimum 10 returns) and earned his first career start at cornerback in the regular-season finale against Houston.
“I do see a marked difference between where Dallis was when he first got here to where he is now,” Colts defensive backs coach Ron Milus said last week. “It’s like night and day, in my opinion.”
Indianapolis parted ways this offseason with two veteran cornerbacks, Stephon Gilmore and Brandon Facyson, opening the door even more for Flowers to continue his improbable rise.
“I’m very capable of being in this league and staying here for a long time,” Flowers said toward the end of the 2022 season. “Demonstrating my skill sets: defense, lockdown corner, punt returner, kick returner, gunner. I just wanted to show (the Colts) that I am a great player.”
Indianapolis drafted 12 players, headlined by No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson, and begins rookie minicamp Friday. All eyes will be on the former Florida QB, but the team will also be searching for its next Flowers among a slew of undrafted rookies.
Colts 2023 draft class
| Round-Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
1-4 | Anthony Richardson | Quarterback | Florida |
2-44 | Julius Brents | Cornerback | Kansas State |
3-79 | Josh Downs | Wide receiver | North Carolina |
4-106 | Blake Freeland | Offensive tackle | BYU |
4-110 | Adetomiwa Adebawore | Defensive tackle | Northwestern |
5-138 | Darius Rush | Cornerback | South Carolina |
5-158 | Daniel Scott | Safety | California |
5-162 | Will Mallory | Tight end | Miami |
5-176 | Evan Hull | Running back | Northwestern |
6-211 | Titus Leo | Defensive end | Wagner |
7-221 | Jaylon Jones | Cornerback | Texas A&M |
7-236 | Jake Witt | Offensive tackle | Northern Michigan |
Here’s a look at the undrafted free agents the Colts have reportedly signed via announcements from the players and their schools, and reports from The Athletic, NFL Network, IndyStar and other outlets. The rookies’ RAS (relative athletic score), which is determined by a prospect’s athletic testing, is also included.
Offensive linemen
Emil Ekiyor, G, Alabama | 6-foot-2, 314 pounds | RAS: N/A
Ekiyor is by far the most intriguing undrafted rookie the Colts picked up because of his talent level and the team’s needs. The 23-year-old Indianapolis native, who starred at Cathedral High School, was the eighth-best guard in this year’s class and a projected fourth-round pick, according to The Athletic draft guru Dane Brugler. However, Ekiyor completely fell out of the draft despite being a three-year starter at Alabama and not recording a single penalty in 2022.
Advertisement
The Colts desperately need to upgrade at right guard, where Will Fries is the presumed starter. The third-year offensive lineman did not play well enough in 2022 to be the unquestioned starter in 2023. Ekiyor should have a chance to compete against Fries in training camp, especially if Indianapolis is set on going young at that position rather than pursuing a veteran in free agency. The biggest knock on Ekiyor, which is perhaps why his stock dropped, is how easily defensive lineman can get him off-balance. He’ll need to choose his spots better in the NFL so he can’t be duped into losing his balance.
“Ekiyor finds himself in compromised positions when his punch hands get off-schedule, but he moves well with the processing and core strength to be effective in multiple schemes,” Brugler wrote in “The Beast.” “He has NFL starter talent with guard-center versatility.”
Harris LaChance, OT, BYU | 6-foot-6, 307 pounds | RAS: 7.64
LaChance played alongside offensive tackle Blake Freeland, the Colts’ fourth-round pick, at BYU, starting 17 of 45 games during his college career. He started all 12 games at right guard in 2022 and helped the Cougars tie for 10th in Division I FBS football with 13 sacks allowed last season. LaChance projects more as an offensive tackle in the NFL, and after Indianapolis struggled mightily upfront last year, it makes sense to add another player with positional versatility. Brugler ranks LaChance as his No. 37 offensive tackle in this year’s draft class.
Harris LaChance has an opportunity to reunite with BYU teammate Blake Freeland in Indianapolis. (Jordon Kelly / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Wide receivers
Cody Chrest, Sam Houston | 6-feet, 193 pounds | RAS 9.77
Seven years — that’s how long Chrest was on a college roster. He appeared in only two games during his first three years at Harvard before a breakout campaign with 45 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns in 2019. After graduating from Harvard in 2020, Chrest transferred and continued his career at Division I FCS Sam Houston, recording 131 catches for 1,715 yards and nine TDs in three years. The experienced receiver garnered NFL looks because of his impressive athleticism, which includes running the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds and a 38-inch vertical leap. Chrest is ranked as the No. 59 wideout in this year’s class, per Brugler.
Johnny King, Southeast Missouri State | 6-foot-4, 209 pounds | RAS: 5.31
King spent one year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2019, tallying 18 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown, before transferring to Division I FCS Southeast Missouri State. He racked up 124 receptions for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns during his three-year stint, and saved his best for last with career highs of 69 receptions for 797 yards and six TDs in 2022. King’s calling card is his height. Brugler ranks him as the No. 195 receiver in the 2023 class.
Advertisement
Zavier Scott, Maine | 6-feet, 219 pounds | RAS: 9.16
Scott spent three seasons at UConn before transferring to Division I FCS Maine. He became a vital piece of the Black Bears’ offense, totaling 42 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown, and 39 carries for 371 yards (a gaudy 9.3 yards per carry) and four scores in 2022. Scott’s versatility is what put him on NFL teams’ radar. Brugler ranks him as the No. 182 receiver in the 2023 class.
Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman | 6-foot-2, 205 pounds | RAS: 6.93
Westfield was a redshirt freshman on the James Madison team that won the 2016 Division I FCS national title. The receiver eventually transferred to Division II Carson-Newman in Tennessee, where he became a standout. Westfield finished his career with 101 receptions for 1,752 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons, including eight TDs in 2022. He proved his big-play ability with touchdown catches of 81, 61 and 58 yards. Westfield is Brugler’s No. 92 wideout in this year’s class.
GO DEEPER
Anthony Richardson, Shane Steichen giving Colts veterans newfound hope
Running backs
Darius Hagans, Virginia State | 5-foot-11, 207 pounds | RAS: 9.61
Hagans represented Division II Virginia State at the HBCU combine in New Orleans, where he gained interest thanks to his explosiveness. He spent three seasons with Trojans, notching 420 carries for 2,069 yards and 17 TDs. Hagans had 189 carries for a career-high 1,012 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. He is the No. 42 running back in this year’s class, according to Brugler.
Titus Swen, Wyoming | 5-foot-9, 204 pounds | RAS: N/A
Swen took over as Wyoming’s lead running back in 2022, totaling career highs of 207 carries for 1,039 yards and eight scores, before being dismissed from the team prior to the Cowboys’ bowl game against Ohio. Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said in a November release that Swen was booted from the program because of “violations of team rules.” According to Cowboy State Daily, Swen said he and the program “just didn’t see eye-to-eye when it came to game planning.” He is the No. 39 running back in the 2023 class, per Brugler.
Titus Swen runs the ball against Fresno State during a November matchup. (Cary Edmondson / USA Today)Linebackers
Liam Anderson, Holy Cross | 6-foot-2, 228 pounds | RAS: 8.74
The Colts need more depth at linebacker with four-time All-Pro Shaquille Leonard recovering from his second back surgery and former starter Bobby Okereke joining the Giants in free agency. Anderson could be an option. He helped lift Division I FCS Holy Cross to its first 11-0 regular season in 31 years before losing in the playoffs to eventual national champ South Dakota State. Anderson anchored the defense with a team-high 86 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The Crusaders’ team captain is the No. 125 linebacker in the 2023 class, according to Brugler.
Caden McDonald, San Diego State | 6-foot-1, 244 pounds | RAS: 4.20
McDonald spent six seasons at San Diego State and is one of only two linebackers to earn three first team All-Mountain West Conference nods. He finished his college career with 162 tackles and 30.5 tackles for loss. McDonald also had a career-high four passes defended in 2022. Brugler ranks him as the No. 123 linebacker in this year’s class.
Donavan Mutin, Houston | 5-foot-11, 227 pounds | RAS: N/A
Mutin was a three-time team captain at Houston. He shined at middle linebacker for the Cougars and had career highs of 85 tackles and five tackles for loss in 2022. Mutin enters the NFL having started 40 of 50 games in college. Brugler ranks Mutin as the No. 131 linebacker in the 2023 class.
Donavan Mutin was a captain at Houston for three seasons. (Maria Lysaker / USA Today)Guy Thomas, Colorado | 6-foot-2, 232 pounds | RAS: 5.08
Thomas began his college career at Nebraska in 2017, but after hardly playing through his first two seasons, he left and continued his career in junior college. He had a noteworthy 2019 campaign at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi, which garnered another Division I opportunity at Colorado. Thomas recorded 36 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss across three seasons with the Buffs. He is the No. 110 linebacker in this year’s class, per Brugler.
Advertisement
Defensive backs
Cole Coleman, cornerback/safety, Elon | 5-foot-9, 188 pounds | RAS: 6.44
Coleman is the son of former Titans receiver Chris Coleman and the stepson of former Browns wideout Richard Alston. He played five years at Division I FCS Elon, and the versatility he showed could help him carve out an NFL career. Coleman recorded 508 and 492 snaps as a slot cornerback and free safety, respectively, during his college career, according to Pro Football Focus. He compiled 281 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three picks and nine passes defended. Coleman was not included in “The Beast.”
Aaron Maddox, safety, Campbell | 5-foot-11, 203 pounds | RAS: 8.57
Maddox began his college career in 2017 at Pima Community College in Arizona before earning a Division I opportunity at Colorado. He spent two seasons with the Buffs before transferring to Southern Illinois for one year and made his final stop at Division I FCS Campbell. Maddox notched 44 tackles, one interception and two passes defended in 2022. He’s undersized as a safety but has NFL-caliber athleticism. Maddox is the No. 182 safety in the 2023 class, according to Brugler.
Tyler Richardson, cornerback, Tiffin | 5-foot-10, 193 pounds | RAS: 3.42
Richardson tallied 112 tackles across four seasons at Division II Tiffin. He had 28 tackles and a career-high five passes defended in 2022. Brugler ranks Richardson as the No. 91 cornerback in the 2023 class. The former Dragon shared a heartfelt message about joining the Colts via Twitter.
“My dad died in Indianapolis when I was 3 years old,” Richardson wrote. “Twenty-one years later, I sign to the Indianapolis Colts as an UDFA!! God works in mysterious ways! Pops, I’m ready for you watch me ball.”
Lummie Young IV, safety, Tulane | 6-feet, 201 pounds | RAS 1.43
Young spent five seasons at Duke, starting 17 of the 34 games he appeared in, before transferring to Tulane for his final college season. He helped the Green Wave engineer “the greatest one-year turnaround in college football history,” according to Brugler, rising from 2-10 in 2021 to 12-2 in 2022. Young recorded 52 tackles and one interception last year. Brugler ranks him as the No. 186 safety in this year’s class.
Lummie Young IV makes a tackle in Tulane’s November win against Tulsa. (Brett Rojo / USA Today)Defensive tackles
Caleb Sampson, Kansas | 6-foot-3, 306 pounds | RAS: 4.18
Sampson started his college career in 2018 at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi before elevating to the Division I level at Kansas. He tallied career highs of 26 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during his final season. Sampson started 38 of the 46 games he appeared in. The former Jayhawk is the No. 57 defensive tackle in the 2023 class, according to Brugler.
Punter
Paxton Brooks, Tennessee | 6-foot-5, 199 pounds | RAS: N/A
Brooks spent five seasons with the Volunteers and was the starting punter for the last four. He appeared in 61 games and blasted 163 punts with an average of 42.3 yards per punt. Brooks doesn’t have a huge leg, but he can put hang time on the ball and “has excellent touch to drop it inside the opposition’s 20-yard line,” according to NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zierlein. Brugler ranks Brooks as the No. 5 punter in this year’s class.
(Top photo of Emil Ekiyor: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k21waWxlZnxzfJFsZmltX2WCcK%2FOpausZaWZs6J50aimpKGVYrqqushmmpqloGQ%3D