Colts 2015 Player Preview: Inside Linebacker Junior Sylvestre

Junior Sylvestre did not get drafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, but that isn't an indication of the collegiate career that he had at Toledo.  Without a doubt, the Indianapolis Colts got a very productive player as an undrafted free agent - and now the key is transitioning that production to the NFL level.

During his career at Toledo, Sylvestre played in 51 games (starting 30) and recorded 286 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one pick, eight passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.  As a junior in 2013, he recorded 118 tackles (9.5 for loss) and five sacks, while in 2014 he recorded 100 tackles (9.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks, being named a First-Team All-MAC selection in both years.  Though he was a high school defensive back, his strength is in run stopping, where he was asked to play a lot at Toledo and where he excelled.  He has good athleticism and is good against the run, making him an interesting candidate to watch moving forward for the Colts.  Perhaps one of the more interesting questions is where he will play, but considering both the pre-draft scouting reports on him and the fact that the Colts list him as an inside linebacker, the weakside inside linebacker spot could be a logical guess.

The Colts return their two starters at inside linebacker from last year in Jerrell Freeman and D'Qwell Jackson, but there are depth spots open.  Nate Irving was signed as a free agent and his strength is in defending the run, so he's likely to make the roster, and then Amarlo Herrera was drafted by the team and might have an advantage at one of the spots too.  Henoc Muamba is also an interesting candidate at inside linebacker, and then Carlos Fields is also competing for a spot.  In short, there are spots to be won at the inside linebacker position, but Junior Sylvestre is facing an uphill battle to win one of them.  His run-stopping skills are something that might intrigue the Colts, but there might be more well-rounded players ahead of him and he will need to really impress in training camp and preseason and show an ability to contribute on special teams as well to make the roster.