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INDIANAPOLISWhen the height and weight popped up on new Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, it looked like a misprint.

At 5-10 and 170 pounds, Rodgers doesn’t meet the typically stringent size requirements that Chris Ballard has for the cornerback position.

He’s even on the small end for the vast majority of college cornerbacks.

Before taking Rodgers with the 211th pick, following the trade of Quincy Wilson, the Colts had selected 4 corners in prior drafts led by Ballard.

Those 4 are much bigger than Rogers: Quincy Wilson (6-2, 193), Nate Hairston (6-0, 185), Rock Ya-Sin (6-0, 192), Marvell Tell (6-2, 198).

So, for Rodgers to have made it on the Colts draft board, there must be an outlier trait or two that stands out.

“Rodgers has exceptional instincts, so he knows how to put himself in position to get in front of the ball,” Colts area scout Mike Derice says. “So he’ll get in front of the wideout with position. He has a savvy about him in coverage. (Then) the added value is the return ability.”

The instincts, a longer wingspan than most his size, and a presence on special teams were all reasons why the Colts felt Rodgers was worthy of a pick late in Round 6.

Rodgers finished his collegiate career at UMass with 11 career interceptions and 46 passes defensed.

He then ran 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at a private pro day.

“He’s got rare speed, he’s an explosive returner and he takes away the ball,” Chris Ballard says of Rodgers.

When the Colts evaluated Rodgers, they had to look past watching the worst defense in college football history.

UMass gave up an astonishingly bad 52.7 points per game, 11 points higher than any other team last season, and the highest mark ever allowed in the NCAA.

Getting past the amount of snaps, and kick returns, Rodgers had in college, the Colts see potential depth at the nickel position, a presence on 4th down (covering and returning kicks) and a little bit of Kenny Moore swagger.

“Just speaking with the Colts over the past few weeks and months, I think my best trait, regardless of the size, is my athleticism, being able to get the ball, whether it’s an interception or just making sure the receiver doesn’t catch it,” Rodgers says.

“I would say the size and the weight, I have great length and great eye contact for the ball.”

If Rodgers can check the boxes as depth at the nickel spot, playing gunner and even doing some returning, it could very well be enough to make the Colts.

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