Colts 2016 player preview: Guard Kitt O’Brien

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp on July 26 with their 90-man roster, which will be cut down to 53 players by the end of the preseason. To pass the time until camp, we’re taking a look at every player on the Colts’ 90-man roster. Today, we’re looking at guard Kitt O’Brien.

Who is he?

The Colts signed Kitt O’Brien as a free agent early in training camp last year. He played collegiately at Ball State from 2009-2012, playing in 40 games and starting 36. He then headed to the Arena Football League, where he spent two seasons with the Cleveland Gladiators and started 22 games (including 17 of 18 games in 2014). The Colts brought him in during training camp last year and he was waived twice during camp, the latter of which was during final roster cuts. He spent two different stints on the team’s practice squad during the season and was ultimately signed to a reserve/future contract following the conclusion of the regular season.

What is his role?

The Colts only have four players listed exclusively at guard on their roster, and another listed as a tackle/guard (Jack Mewhort). What the roster doesn’t tell you, however, is that Jonotthan Harrison and Joe Haeg have both been working at guard this offseason, adding a couple of other players to the mix. That means that O’Brien will be competing with Hugh Thornton, Jack Mewhort, Joe Reitz, Joe Haeg, Adam Redmond, and Jonotthan Harrison for the guard spots (though, of course, Reitz could just as easily be listed as a tackle). In other words, he’s doesn’t figure to be high enough on the depth chart currently to make a roster. Mewhort and Thornton (?) are the presumed starters, and that would leave guys like Reitz, Haeg, and Harrison – all of whom would still be expected to make the roster. So it likely will take a very impressive, standout performance by O’Brien this year in camp in order to make the roster.

What are his chances?

He’ll need to beat out some of the more established players in order to earn a spot.