The Indianapolis Colts caught the attention of the fan base and many around the league when they elected to list Hunter Wohler out of Wisconsin at LB instead of safety, where he played mainly at Wisconsin.
The team had success with this a year ago, converting Jaylon Carlies to LB from safety. And with the Colts' LB room so thin, having another converted safety in the room would certainly be intriguing. It seems like we should hit the brakes on that idea, though, with Wohler explaining which position he believes he will begin his career playing.
Colts' 7th-round pick Hunter Wohler shares that he is currently working at safety not linebacker
During a recent media availability, I asked Wohler how the team has described the role they envision him in at the pro level. He went on to share that despite being listed as an LB by the Colts after being drafted, he is expecting to solely be in the safety room to begin his NFL career.
"Coming into rookie mini camp and OTAs, I'm starting in the safety room and seeing how I fit in there, see how I play on the field. As long as that goes good, I'll stay in that room. We haven't talked much beyond that. I know I'll also be a piece on special teams, that will be a big role for me especially this first year. But as of right now I'm playing in the safety room."
- Colts 2025 7th round pick Hunter Wohler
Wohler did many things for the Badgers' defense at Wisconsin during his career. His most prominent role came in the box as a safety, but he also logged over 100 snaps last season in the slot and as the deep safety. His solid athleticism should help him make an instant impact on special teams. And I think the special teams coordinator, Brian Mason, will find ways to use Wohler during his rookie season if he makes the Colts 53 53-man roster.
Whether at LB or safety, Wohler will have a chance to carve out a role as a key reserve early in his career. Due to the lack of depth in both rooms, it appears that Wohler will compete to be Nick Cross's primary backup at SS for now. Wohler's knack for aggressively attacking ball carriers should help him see the field early, even if it's on special teams. But one look at his overall athletic profile, and it's easy to see why the Colts took this shot on Wohler in the 7th, hoping he could develop into more.
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