The Indianapolis Colts haven’t been shy about making it known how they feel about the Senior Bowl every year. Since taking over in 2017, general manager Chris Ballard has used this event to find several prospects in the draft.

Ballard’s history in taking high-character seniors in the draft has been well-documented. There is no reason to think the 2020 draft will be any different for the Colts, especially with the crop of quarterbacks that are currently there.

While Ballard loves to play the youth card in the draft, he also knows having quality leadership is important as well. Thus come the seniors, and the Colts have been pretty involved in selecting players that participated in the Senior Bowl.

2017

DE Tarell Basham – Third round
OT Zach Banner – Fourth round

2018

LB Darius Leonard – Second round
DE Kemoko Turay – Second round
DT Tyquan Lewis – Second round

2019

CB Rock Ya-Sin – Second round
DE Ben Banogu – Second round
LB Bobby Okereke – third round
S Khari Willis – Fourth round
DE Gerri Green – Sixth round

While the 2017 draft only featured two draft picks from the Senior Bowl, it is clear the trend that has taken place. Ballard loves his Senior Bowl picks, and he has found a great deal of success with those middle-round picks.

Finding a gem like Leonard was huge, but he also honed in on players like Ya-Sin, Okereke and Willis—all of which had immediate impacts on the defensive side of the ball for the Colts.

There are a number of players that will likely intrigue the Colts at the Senior Bowl. From the quarterbacks in Jordan Love and Justin Herbert to the interior defensive linemen in Javon Kinlaw and Neville Gallimore,

It will be interesting to see how the draft goes for the Colts in April but don’t be surprised when a few of the selections were participants in the Senior Bowl.