Will Mallory isn’t exactly a household name. Yet, the young tight end could morph into an impact player for the Indianapolis Colts.
Mallory played his college ball at the University of Miami. He was a second-team All-ACC selection as a senior. That year, he caught 42 passes for 538 yards and three touchdowns.
If Mallory becomes a valuable contributor for the Colts, he wouldn’t be the first from “The U” to do so. There have been several former Hurricanes who’ve starred for the franchise over the years.
Is This Youngster the Next Colts Impact Player Out of Miami?
Notable Miami Hurricanes Who’ve Played for the Colts
Linebacker Ted Hendricks was a three-time All-American at Miami. He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1968. He was the first Hurricane to be selected to the College Football Hall of Fame, entering the Hall in 1986.
The Baltimore Colts drafted Hendricks in the second round of the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft. He played five seasons with the franchise, winning Super Bowl V and making three Pro Bowls. He later won three more Super Bowls with different teams and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Fast forward to the Indianapolis era. The Colts drafted Miami running back Edgerrin James fourth overall in 1999. James spent seven seasons with the team, leading the league in rushing twice and making four Pro Bowls. James teamed with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison to form one of the most explosive trios ever. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
James’ college teammate, Reggie Wayne, was drafted by the Colts in 2001. During his 14 seasons in Indy, the talented wide receiver made six Pro Bowls and helped the team win Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears. He is currently the Colts’ wide receivers coach.
Frank Gore, who won a national championship at Miami, spent three seasons as a Colt (2015-2017). He rushed for over 900 yards each season, including 1,025 during the 2016 campaign. While Gore is more known for his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, he was a productive player for the Colts.
Can Will Mallory Emerge as the Colts’ Best Tight End?
The Colts drafted Will Mallory in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. As a rookie last season, he played 12 games, catching 18 passes for 207 yards.
Indy currently has a deep tight end room. Outside of Mallory, there’s Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, and Drew Ogletree. Woods, who probably has the most potential of the group, missed last season due to injury. But even with Woods returning, Mallory could still emerge as the Colts’ best tight end in 2024.
Mallory showed flashes that he can be a good NFL tight end. He hauled in 18 of 20 catchable targets as a rookie. With that said, he pretty much caught everything thrown his way. Mallory is fast as well. He ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. It was the fastest among the 13 tight ends who were clocked. If Mallory continues to round out his complete game, he can turn into a solid contributor for the Colts.
Will Mallory will probably never become a Colts legend like Edgerrin James or Reggie Wayne. Yet, he could develop into a go-to weapon for Anthony Richardson.
Main Photo: [Bill Streicher] – USA Today Sports
