Colts 2015 Player Preview: Running Back Tyler Varga

A year ago, the Colts needed all the help they could get at the running back position, but now a promising undrafted free agent is fighting what seems to be an uphill battle to earn a roster spot.

Tyler Varga, a 5-11, 222 pound running back, had a very successful career at Yale, where he rushed for 2,985 yards and 31 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.  He topped 100 yards rushing in 17 career games and topped 200 yards three times.  He was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he was a team captain of the North team and scored two touchdowns.  Furthermore, he was invited to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine to work out.  He was projected to be a fifth or sixth round pick in the Draft but instead went undrafted, signing with the Colts shortly thereafter.  He was drafted, however, in the CFL draft, as the Calgary Stampeders took him with the first overall pick in the third round.  Make no mistake, though: he's committed to trying to earn a spot with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.

Varga is a very intriguing player for an undrafted free agent, as he's a good running back who could help an NFL team.  The problem that he might run into with the Colts, however, is the other talent ahead of him on the depth chart.  Frank Gore was signed this offseason to be the team's starter, while Boom Herron will likely fill the number two running back role.  Josh Robinson was drafted by the team in the sixth round and he's a guy to keep an eye on when it comes to the running back rotation as well.  And then if Vick Ballard comes back healthy, he would certainly look to factor into the mix at the position too.  We can't forget about Zurlon Tipton, either, who ended last season as the number two running back but now looks to be the number five back, if everyone is healthy.  So where does that leave Varga?  He's likely going to need someone to get injured ahead of him to have a chance to move up high enough on the roster, but he's definitely a talented player that the Colts might want to keep working with.  If they want to keep him on the practice squad, they could definitely have a use for him in a year or two when they need young players at the position to take over.  Tyler Varga is a guy to like at the running back position, but the other players at the spot might make it hard for him to find a place on the 53-man roster out of training camp.