Report: Colts hosted Cal Poly EDGE Elijah Ponder on a High 30 go to

The Indianapolis Colts introduced in Cal Poly defensive finish Elijah Ponder on a High 30 go to, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported.

Before everything, Ponder is an elite athlete who showcased as a lot at his Professional Day. Sporting superb hand measurement (10”) and arm size (33”), Ponder ran a 4.57-second 40-yard sprint (to pair with an elite 1.56 10-second break up) and lit up the explosive testings with 99th percentile rankings in each the vertical and broad jumps.

Ponder additionally participated within the East-West Shrine Bowl All-Star and was named one among Chad Reuter of NFL.com’s prime performers of the occasion.

Whereas Ponder’s prospect profile will inevitably be critiqued because of taking part in inferior competitors within the FCS, his athletic profile is actually as much as NFL requirements.

Whereas Ponder is a bit undersized as a modern-day NFL edge defender, standing at 6’2” tall and weighing a modest 251 lbs, his expertise, sturdiness, and sound tackling off the sting are what solidify him as an NFL prospect.

As a key member of the Cal Poly Mustangs’ protection for 4 straight seasons, Ponder exemplified his consistency and reliability by racking up 2,500 defensive snaps throughout 4 wholesome seasons. Not solely that, Ponder turned a safe tackler throughout his final two seasons at Cal Poly, sporting a 9.5% missed sort out charge in 2023 and following that up with a 3.2% missed sort out charge this previous season.

As a move rusher, Ponder had his best season in 2023, the place he totaled 51 pressures and 9 sacks, although his regression to the 2024 season dwindled solely barely — 38 pressures and 7 sacks — whereas he blossomed right into a extra formidable run-stopper.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, mastermind behind the illustrious annual NFL Draft information generally known as The Beast, even named Ponder as his highest-ranked non-Mix prospect at his place.

Whereas the Colts are returning most of their beginning manufacturing from the previous two seasons, the lack of Dayo Odeyingbo to free company, in addition to the grim contractual way forward for the defensive room, makes including depth throughout the defensive position and particularly at edge mandatory.

Ponder is at the moment projected as a late Day 3 (rounds 4-7) draft choice, however don’t be shocked if you happen to hear his identify known as sooner than that.