By Jordan Hansen
It was a quiet NFL draft weekend for the Iowa football team; center Austin Blythe was the only Hawkeye player selected.
Indianapolis’ seventh-round pick (248th overall), Blythe preserved what is now a 39-year streak of the Hawkeyes having at least one player drafted by an NFL team.
“So blessed and lucky to have been picked by the Colts. Can’t wait to get started,” Blythe said on Twitter.
He won’t be the only former Hawkeye in the Colts’ training camp later this year. Wide receiver Tevaun Smith signed a free-agent contract with Indianapolis after the draft and could compete for a spot on the roster.
If that doesn’t work out, he is also a top-rated Canadian Football League prospect.
“It’s all about getting an opportunity,” Smith said in a tweet. “Thank you, Colts.”
Tight end Henry Krieger Coble signed a free-agent contract with Broncos. The 6-3, 248-pound prospect was invited to the Senior Bowl but went undrafted. He was signed quickly after the draft concluded.
Kicker Marshall Koehn and defensive back Jordan Lomax also went undrafted. The pair signed free-agent contracts with Miami and Los Angeles, respectively.
Koehn hit 16-of-20 field goals and 47-of-53 extra-point attempts last season. He should be in contention for a job, while Lomax will get a chance to make a mark on the freshly moved Rams.
“God has a plan for everyone; blessed to join the LA Rams organization,” Lomax wrote on Twitter.
Offensive lineman Jordan Walsh and fullback Adam Cox both are headed to Atlanta on free-agent contracts.
The Chicago Bears also decided to sign some local talent; defensive end Nate Meier and wide receiver Jacob Hillyer both reportedly received contracts from the team.
Running back Jordan Canzeri, who ranks 13th in Iowa history in rushing, will have a free-agent tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.
Defensive lineman Drew Ott went undrafted and as of Sunday evening had not been reported as having signed a free-agent contract. Ott tore his ACL in Iowa’s 29-20 win over Illinois on Oct. 10 and was also dealing with an elbow injury.
Between his injuries and lack of tape from this season, NFL teams were obviously not entirely convinced he was worth taking a chance on.
Linebacker Cole Fisher and punter Dillon Kidd also have yet to be reported as having signed on to a team.