2011 NFL Draft: Colts Visit Chad Spann, Northern Illinois Runningback

by Brad Wells on Mar 28, 2011 5:11 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Normally when I post news bits like this, my source is usually an SB Nation affiliated site like National Football Post. Many times, it's Aaron Wilson who gets info from 'his sources,' and then he posts the news on NFP. Aaron does great work there, and he is very wired into which players pay visits to the Colts prior to the draft.

However, this time I got the scoop on the Colts visiting with a player: Running back Chad Spann of Northern Illinois.

My sources tell me that Spann visited the Colts two weeks ago. For more on this, jump with me...

The Colts had a visit with Spann and then, a short time later, an Indy scout visited his Pro Day at Northern Illinois on March 10th. He was clocked in the 40 at 4.47 and 4.52. Not bad. Nothing great, but not bad. What's concerning is his height. At 5'8, that's a bit short. He's also about 198 pounds.

Spann ran for 1,388 yards, had a 5.4 yards per carry average, led nation in rushing touchdowns with 22 while at Northern Illinois. He had 49 TDs for his career, tied for the best all-time in NIU history with longtime Colts nemesis Michael Turner.

Spann's hometown is Indianapolis. He played high school ball at North Central.

With the Colts interested in him, looks like we'll have to do a draft profile sometime soon.

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Local kid means he doesn't count against the 30 players that we have official visits with

Getting some insider scoop! Gotta change your name to Big Deal Brad, haha. Just playing – that’s awesome!

I wrote him down on my list of prospects to watch – NIU has put out some decent NFL players recently (Turner the Burner, Garrett Wolfe, as well as our own washed up RT Ryan Diem).

Good find!

by GoHorse88 on Mar 28, 2011 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

We need this kid

This video is impressive. Every game he make big plays.

by ushoe on Mar 28, 2011 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

God is watching over me!!!

I was driving back to campus, keep in mind I have a torn ligament in my hand so I was driving with only one hand, and a guy was veering into my lane causing me to hit the curb at about 50 mph and blow out both tires on my passenger side. The cops arrive on the scene and I’m panicking because I still had “party favors”, not the alcoholic kind, I got from my buddy last night in the trunk of my car. Eventually the wrecker come to the scene and somehow I was able to walk away from about 5 cops w/ 18 grams worth of “party favors” in my back-pack. Life is Good!!! :)

"Roll up, wait a minute
Let me put some kush up in it" - Dr. Dre

by P0RKINS2 on Mar 28, 2011 6:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

This is why you should always check before you copy and paste something w/ an IPhone.

"Roll up, wait a minute
Let me put some kush up in it" - Dr. Dre

by P0RKINS2 on Mar 28, 2011 6:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

haha

Drugs are bad.

by An Actual Fan of the Colts on Mar 29, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Your signature fits perfectly with PORKINS2 comment haha.

by RamblinWreck7 on Mar 29, 2011 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Happppyyyyy

So glad that he is getting recognition. I go to North Central and appreciate what he did here. this guy is a monster. Possibly mike hArt 2.0 minus the injuries. Could even be a potential starter somewhere down the road. Kind of also reminds me of chad simpson.

by BleedingBlueAndWhite on Mar 28, 2011 6:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I thought of Mike Hart as well when I was watching this guy.

His height isn’t a huge concern for me considering the speed it looks like he gets once he gets his feet under him. Plus maybe he can just be like MJD and hide behind linemen until he gets to the second level.

Peyton Manning = GFQTWHESINTHOEF

by coltsjunkie44 on Mar 28, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

draft intrest

national football post also reported that the colts met with Phil Taylor.He will almost certainly be a 1st round pick.Almost all the players they have shown intrest in are ot’s and dt’s.

by zorro7114 on Mar 29, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

Link?

Do you have a link for that? That is interesting, indeed.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Mar 29, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Also Matt Murphy ot from UNLV met with colts according to draft insider. No link for NFP story, search news under Phil taylor, not in the headline but in the body of the story.

by zorro7114 on Mar 29, 2011 7:35 AM EDT reply actions

Thx

Thx for that info.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Mar 29, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

he looks great

we’ll trade up in the first round to get him

by muncie_in_this on Mar 29, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

What about some of those lineman?

Especially the guards, I lost count of the number of pancakes and half of them were getting to the 2nd level on almost every play. Watch the Wisconsin goaline touchdown. They blew up the DTs and could have pushed the D-Line out of the back of the endzone there.

"It's about the journey--mine and yours--and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better."
— Tony Dungy

by Mark Olson on Mar 29, 2011 11:01 AM EDT reply actions