Latest news with #Wohler
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Safety position still thin for Indianapolis Colts after 2025 NFL draft
Safety position still thin for Indianapolis Colts after 2025 NFL draft After free agency and the NFL draft, the safety position for the Indianapolis Colts is still looking a bit thin. After free agency and the NFL draft, the safety position for the Indianapolis Colts is still looking a bit thin. While the addition of Cam Bynum in free agency will greatly improve the level of play from this unit, the depth behind him and Nick Cross is short on experience. After Bynum and Cross on the depth chart is Rodney Thomas, who played nearly 1,800 snaps on defense during his first two NFL seasons, according to PFF, but was hardly on the field in 2024. Then it is Marcel Dabo, who has been on the practice squad as an International Pathway Player, and Daniel Scott, who, unfortunately, has missed his first two NFL seasons due to injuries. Those five players make up the entire safety room currently. Now, I'm sure there will be some UDFA additions that help bolster the depth of that unit from a numbers perspective. Also, seventh-round draft pick Hunter Wohler played safety at Wisconsin. So perhaps, those are potential options. However, you should never assume that a UDFA can be relied upon heavily if needed. That's the hope, but oftentimes not the case. With Wohler, the Colts drafted him as a linebacker, but GM Chris Ballard said he would fill a variety of roles, which could include some dime safety duties. I'm sure Wohler could step in at safety if the Colts were in a pinch, but having a late Day 3 rookie learning two position groups would potentially be putting a lot on his plate--not to mention that if Wohler is at safety, a not-so-deep linebacker position is now without a player. As we detailed recently, there are three positions on the Colts roster where one could justify making an addition still, and the unknown around the depth at safety is a reason why this position group was on that list. According to Over the Cap, a few free agent safety options who still remain unsigned include Justin Simmons, Rayshawn Jenkins, Jordan Whitehead, Julian Blackmon, Chuck Clark, and Jordan Poyer. Salary cap-wise, the Colts have the ability to make an addition if Ballard chooses to go down that path.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Breaking down Indianapolis Colts' 2025 seventh-round pick: LB Hunter Wohler
Breaking down Indianapolis Colts' 2025 seventh-round pick: LB Hunter Wohler In the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Wisconsin safety turned linebacker Hunter Wohler. Let's break it down. In the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Wisconsin safety turned linebacker Hunter Wohler. Let's break down the pick, and if you missed our other recaps, you can find them below. Hunter Wohler's profile Height: 6-02 Weight: 213 Age: 22 College profile Breaking down the Indianapolis Colts' pick Wohler played safety at Wisconsin, accumulating over 1,800 defensive snaps across four seasons, which included being a starter the final two years. Throughout his career, he's been a very reliable tackler, and that, of course, has made him a strong run defender. In coverage this most recent season, Wohler held opponents to a completion rate of 59% on 27 targets, giving up 11.8 yards per catch, while forcing six pass breakups. As we saw the Colts do last season with Jaylon Carlies, Wohler is going to play some linebacker in Lou Anarumo's defense. During his career at Wisconsin, the bulk of Wohler's snaps came near the line of scrimmage, either down in the box or lined up in the slot. So playing closer to the line of scrimmage and helping out in the run game won't be uncharted waters for him, and as a safety, he can add some more coverage ability to the linebacker position for the Colts. While the Colts will list Wohler as a safety, Chris Ballard wasn't going to pigeon-hole him to that position either, adding that Wohler could still see snaps at safety, specifically when the Colts are in dime, which we will see a lot more of under Anarumo. Wohler gives the Colts flexibility in Anarumo's versatile scheme because he can handle a variety of roles, and he provides some needed depth at the linebacker position. Wohler's greatest impact in Year 1 may end up coming on special teams, where he has his share of experience. Hunter Wohler's scouting report Lance Zierlein: "Two-year starting safety whose activity level reaches beyond what his athletic capabilities can handle at times. Wohler spent much of his time as an add-on run defender who rushed in to be part of the action. He's a run-and-hit tackler in space but a lack of burst and top-end speed causes him to lose pursuit angles and miss out on tackles. He can cover tight ends but doesn't have the range to play over the top or the open-field athleticism to survive against NFL receivers in space. Special teams play could be the key to Wohler maintaining a roster spot as an NFL backup at strong safety." They said it Tyler Hughes, area scout: 'With Hunter, the versatility was the key thing, especially later in the draft," said Hughes via the Indy Star. "He's played a lot of down linebacker, he's played strong safety, he's played free safety, he was the punt returner this year, which shows that he's a reliable dude and coaches trust him. Super smart. He's going to be a great special teams player for us. 'With how much sub-package we're in, in the NFL nowadays, that dime linebacker role is nice for him, but that's not going to limit him to play strong safety or free safety. He has the frame to play all of them.' Hunter Wohler's athletic profile
Indianapolis Star
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Colts instant draft grades: Why Hunter Wohler pick in seventh round gets a B
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts wrapped up their 2025 draft class with a special teamer. Indianapolis drafted Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler with the No. 232 pick in the seventh round. Colts draft grade: Wisconsin LB Hunter Wohler Grade: B Why: The Colts put off their linebacker need all the way until their final pick of the draft. But now, they appear to have answered it with a special teams option. Wohler played safety at Wisconsin, where he started the past two seasons and racked up 191 tackles in that time. He showed off the ability to cover tight ends, as he illustrated with six pass breakups last season. But he struggled with faster players in the Big Ten Conference, which likely necessitates a move to linebacker at the next level. He reached a solid level as a college safety, as he was named third-team All-Big Ten in 2023 and honorable mention in 2024. But the athletes he'll face in the NFL are of a completely different variety. As he makes the transition, he'll likely focus in on a special teams role, where the Colts could use some more coverage consistency than they've seen in the past couple seasons. He should take the spot that the Colts previously saved for players such as Trevor Denbow and Daniel Scott before they struggled with injuries. If he's able to stay healthy and settle down that role, he could be worth this pick near the end of the draft. Colts instant draft grades: Why Jalen Travis pick in fourth-round gets a B Colts instant draft grades: Why D.J. Giddens pick in fifth-round gets a B+ Why Kansas State RB D.J. Giddens can be the backup Colts need behind Jonathan Taylor Colts instant draft grades: Why Tim Smith pick in sixth-round gets a C- Colts instant draft grades: Why Riley Leonard pick in sixth round gets a B Colts instant draft grades: Why Hunter Wohler pick in seventh round gets a B Colts instant draft grades: Why JT Tuimoloau pick in second-round gets an A Colts instant draft grades: Why Justin Walley pick in third-round gets a C- 'We grade them and we take them': Why Chris Ballard doesn't care Justin Walley got 6th-round grades Why Tyler Warren became the perfect fit for the Colts over Colston Loveland To add more value, he'll need to factor into the defensive depth in a better way. The Colts could use a backup strong safety behind Nick Cross, and they've used hybrid linebackers such as Ronnie Harrison Jr. in that spot in the past, though that was under former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Lou Anarumo deploys a more rotating approach to the safety spots that could make his athletic profile a stretch at the moment. But the need for linebacker help is strong after the Colts did not take one in this draft despite losing EJ Speed and Grant Stuard in free agency. Given that Wohler hasn't played the position yet, it's likely more of a goal for him to develop into in a couple years. Thus, this pick does not offer too much in the way of addressing the weakest position on defense entering the draft. But the bar for seventh-round picks is not high, and finding a useful special teamer can make it worth one.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin standout safety selected in the seventh round of 2025 NFL draft
Wisconsin standout safety selected in the seventh round of 2025 NFL draft Welcome to Indy, Hunter Wohler! — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 26, 2025 The Indianapolis Colts selected Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler with the 16th pick of the seventh round (No. 232 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday. Wohler is the second direct Wisconsin product drafted, following offensive tackle Jack Nelson by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 218 overall. Those two went off the board after former Badger transfers Chimere Dike (Tennessee Titans) and Graham Mertz (Houston Texans) were selected in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively. Wohler originally joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021, ranked specifically as the No. 197 overall player in the class, No. 12 safety and No. 2 in-state recruit. The Muskego, Wisconsin, native appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2021, totaling 17 tackles, three for loss and a sack. After his 2022 campaign was plagued by injury, Wohler broke out as a junior in 2023, totaling 120 tackles, six for loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections. The safety did not maintain those numbers as a senior in 2024, although he was the defense's primary leader during the first two years of the Luke Fickell era. Wohler is the 18th safety selected in the 2025 draft. His seventh-round placement is two rounds behind his pre-draft projection, which appeared to be trending positively after a terrific NFL combine performance. His path to a Colts roster spot will now likely come by producing on special teams, just as he did as a freshman with the Badgers in 2021. The safety's depth chart status will be worth monitoring as training camp gets underway. He is looking to become the only former Wisconsin safety on an NFL 53-man roster. Wohler notably joins two notable former Badgers on the Colts: running back Jonathan Taylor and offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini. He is likely to be the final Wisconsin product selected during the 2025 draft. Stay tuned through the rest of the weekend as former Badgers sign as undrafted free agents. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
