Colts Rookies Set to Hit the Field for Minicamp

We are finally going to see the Indianapolis Colts’ rookies on the field as the team’s rookie minicamp runs from Friday to Sunday.

Old school guard Quenton Nelson working with old school O-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, rookie receivers Deon Cain and Daurice Fountain being given words of wisdom from Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis teaching Kemoko Turay what it takes to be an elite pass rusher, and Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni getting their hands on Nyheim Hines all will finally happen this weekend.

Here is the lineup of the Colts’ 2018 rookie draft picks and undrafted free agents:

• RB Nyheim Hines (4-104)
• RB Jordan Wilkins (5-169)
• WR Daurice Fountain (5-159)
• WR Deon Cain (6-185)
• WR Steve Ishmael (UDFA)
• OG Quenton Nelson (1-6)
• OG Braden Smith (2-37)
• DE Kemoko Turay (2-52)
• DL Tyquan Lewis (2-64)
• DT Tomasi Laulile (UDFA)
• LB Darius Leonard (2-36)
• LB Matthew Adams (7-221)
• LB Zaire Franklin (7-235)
• LB Skai Moore (UDFA)
• LB William Ossai (UDFA)
• CB Henre’ Toliver (UDFA)
• CB Robert Jackson (UDFA)
• CB Lashard Durr (UDFA)
• S George Odum (UDFA)
• S Chris Cooper (UDFA)
• K Michael Badgley (UDFA)

The Colts will also host some undrafted players on a tryout basis during the rookie minicamp, but the rumors on those are always very fluid. While I was going to wait until the Colts announced who was in attendance before adding them to this, I did see the following players in the Colts’ rookie arrival photo gallery.

Other rookies rumored to be trying out for the Colts this weekend: Wisconsin safety Joe Ferguson, Washington State offensive lineman Cody O’Connell, Utah cornerback Kenric Young, Iowa offensive lineman Boone Myers, South Dakota State defensive lineman Kellen Soulek, Youngstown State offensive lineman Justin Spencer and Rutgers defensive end/tight end Myles Nash.

Although the rookie minicamp will be over after this weekend, the players will remain busy. Starting on May 14, Rookie Football Development Plan programs around the league will begin. After that, select NFL rookies (maybe a couple from the Colts) will head to the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles from May 17-20.

Colts rookies and veterans hit the field again for OTA’s from May 22-24, May 30-31, June 1 and June 4-7. Mandatory minicamp follows from June 12-14.

During the slowest lull of the NFL calendar, the mandatory Rookie Transition Program will take place for every team in late June. This program replaced what was formerly the Rookie Symposium.

The good stuff happens in July — training camp. If you’re into reading the technical mumbo jumbo, then I provide you the rules on when players can report to camp, according to the NFL Operations website (since the Colts haven’t announced their camp schedule yet):

Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies and first-year players beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for Veteran players.

Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension-credited season) other than quarterbacks or “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club’s first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later.

Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players.

A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a club’s roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who rejoin the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.

As rookies make impressions in their first minicamp and speak to the media, we will have more to report for you. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Andrew Walker of Colts.com just put out this complete list of rookie minicamp participants:

Andrew Walker of Colts.com