When training camp arrives in the final week of July, one of the top position battles they will be watching include rookie Bobby Okereke at the middle linebacker position.
While he will be going up against third-year linebacker Anthony Walker, the Colts also feel Okereke has the skill set to compete at all three linebacker spots in the middle of the defense.
“I think he could play all three. He’s played MIKE at Stanford. He can make the calls, he’s smart, he is tough, he’s got the length,” area scout Chad McGaha told Colts.com. “But he is fast, he plays with good effort. And then coverage, too, if you want to bump him out, or whatever, he’s good in coverage. So I think he can play all three. I kind of saw him in size as a MIKE or WILL. But I think he’ll get a chance at all three, too.”
Okereke is likely to spend the majority of his time competing with Walker at the MIKE position. However, he did see some time at WILL linebacker during the spring with 2018 All-Pro Darius Leonard absent after undergoing an ankle procedure.
Speaking of the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, the Colts saw a lot of similarities in Okereke’s game and measurements to that of Leonard.
“He’s got the length, 35-inch arms. He’s fast. He ran fast; I don’t remember the number exactly. But plays with effort, kind of like Darius — instincts, tackling, sideline-to-sideline guy,” said McGaha. “He’s good in coverage, too. We saw him kind of in the same light. You put those two guys next to each other.”
Does that mean the Colts have another DROY on their hands? Probably not. But it does mean they feel Okereke has the skill set to make a big impact in the middle of the defense.
There will be several competitions to keep an eye on once training camp begins, and the rookie should be right in the middle of arguably the most intriguing battle.
