Undrafted free agent tracker: Colts UDFA class headlined by Notre Dame QB Jack Coan

INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in three seasons, the Colts did not use a day three draft pick on a quarterback, breaking a string that had been rolling with Jacob Eason in 2020 and Sam Ehlinger in 2021.

Indianapolis ended up agreeing to terms with Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan as an undrafted free agent, a move that gives the Colts three young quarterbacks in a room with starter Matt Ryan: Ehlinger, Coan and James Morgan.

For Coan, the signing meant his decision to sign with Notre Dame as a graduate transfer last offseason ultimately ended up paying off with an NFL opportunity.

Coan won the Fighting Irish's starting job in training camp and turned in the best season of his college career, completing 65.5of his passes for career bests of 3,150 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Notre Dame quarterback headlines a long list of undrafted free agents the Colts agreed to sign in the hours after the draft. Flush with draftable prospects after COVID-19 rules ballooned the 2022 draft class, Indianapolis signed potential players fast and furious after the draft.

“I think the draft, I think it’s got some real depth it in this year,” Ballard said at the NFL scouting combine. “I mean, all the way through free agency. Last year, 1,700 players; this year, 2,800. You’re talking 1,100 more players.”

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Coan was not the only notable player the Colts signed.

Indianapolis gave UConn offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark $175,000 in guaranteed money, an enormous amount for an undrafted player, to sign with the Colts and begin developing as part of the offensive line.

Van Demark, a 6-6, 307-pound prospect who visited Indianapolis during the weeks leading up to the draft, is an athletic developmental prospect on the outside.

Indianapolis also added plenty of high-profile competition for Deon Jackson at the No. 3 running back spot behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, signing Oregon's C.J. Verdell, Washington State's Max Borghi and Florida International's D'Vonte Price as undrafted free agents.

All three turned heads in college.

Verdell posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019, saw his junior season cut short by the pandemic and then fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle after five games and 405 yards this season, making it difficult for him in the predraft process.

But Verdell has been a star, like Borghi, who twice broke the 800-yard mark at Washington State, and Price, who rushed for 2,203 yards in five seasons at Florida International.

Offered a chance this offseason to make his roster younger, Ballard grabbed it, making eight draft picks and then signing at least 16 players as undrafted free agents.

In 2021, the Colts' 22-year streak of opening the season with an undrafted free agent on the roster finally came to an end.

This season they might start a new one.

2022 Colts Undrafted Free Agents

• Jack Coan, QB, Notre Dame

• C.J. Verdell, RB, Oregon

• Max Borghi, RB, Washington State

• D'Vonte Price, RB, Florida International

• Kekoa Crawford, WR, California

• Samson Nacua, WR, BYU

• Michael Young Jr., WR, Cincinnati

• Josh Seltzner, G, Wisconsin

• Alex Mollette, G, Marshall

• Wesley French, C, Western Michigan

• Ryan Van Demark, T, Connecticut

• Cullen Wick, DE, Tulsa

• McKinley Williams, DL, Syracuse

• Scott Patchan, DL, Colorado State

• Forrest Rhyne, LB, Villanova

• JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska

• Dallis Flowers, CB, Pittsburg State

• Sterling Weatherford, LB/S, Miami of Ohio

• Trevor Denbow, S, SMU

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Undrafted free agent tracker: QB Jack Coan headlines Colts class