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Colts Titus Leo 'Just Scratching the Surface' as an Edge Rusher

Originally posted on FanNation All Colts
By Andrew Moore | Last updated 5/9/23

The Indianapolis Colts are known for taking chances on small-school prospects.

Since Chris Ballard became general manager in 2017, the Colts have selected a player from a small school in each NFL draft. These players typically rise above the competition and possess high-level athletic traits that translate to the next level. Some small school players who have had success with the Colts after being drafted include Shaquille Leonard, Grover Stewart, and E.J. Speed.

The Colts hope they have found their next small-school star in defensive end Titus Leo. Leo was selected with the No.211 pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The edge rusher out of Wagner did not hold a big draft party but was with family when he received the life-changing call.

“I was down in a smaller restaurant with my family and my agent," Leo admitted. "And then my agent and I went upstairs to the office and we were just hanging out there, letting the sixth round end, play out and see where we’re at. I got the call and that was it. The rest was history. I’m ready to go.”

In five seasons with the Seahawks, Leo racked up 234 tackles, an astounding 40 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, four passes defended, and an interception. While Leo will be a pass rusher for the Colts, he was not always terrorizing quarterbacks. Leo actually began his college career catching passes from quarterbacks on the offensive side of the ball.

"I got recruited as a receiver going into college back in 2018," Leo explained. "The defense was pretty banged up my freshman year and my head coach – I played both sides of the ball my freshman year as well. So, my head coach was like, ‘Hey, do you just want to transition to defense and stick to it?’ I was all for it. Just get on the field and just compete. I was all for it. So, that’s really how the transition worked.”

From wide receiver, Leo moved to safety for Wagner when the defense was banged up. As Leo packed on more weight, he transitioned from safety to linebacker and eventually ended up as an edge rusher. Leo quickly realized he felt at home as a pass rusher.

"I’m expected to develop as an edge rusher really," he said. "As they said, I’m just scratching the surface of my potential. The transition – I played strong side linebacker, I played receiver, safety and EDGE. I’ve only played defensive end and the edge rusher for only 22 games – just two seasons. So, I’m still really a rookie at this position and just developing into it.”

While Leo did not make it into the 2023 Indy Draft Guide, below is an excerpt from Dane Brugler's The Beast on how Leo projects in the NFL:

A two-time captain, Leo earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” with his ability to pounce out of his stance and chase down the ball. He plays with active hands that stay out in front but tends to get crazed in his rush and needs to rely more on punctuality and planning. Overall, Leo is an NFL-caliber athlete with a red-hot motor, but he needs to develop his skill for a more efficient attack plan. He is a work in progress as a pass rusher with special-teams value.

Leo checks a lot of boxes for the Colts despite being a raw pass rusher. He posted a 4.69 40-yard dash time at his pro day, showing off his elite speed and explosion. Although he is not the biggest edge rusher at 6'3" and 245 pounds, Leo has phenomenal length with an almost 82-inch wingspan. Leo projects well as a LEO – no pun intended – in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's scheme, a position tailored for speedy, undersized pass rushers.

Leo is a raw prospect who will likely need time to develop before producing for the Colts. If Leo wants to carve out a roster spot, special teams may be the route to go early on. But Leo believes that by trusting his coaches and continuing the work ethic that got him this far, he can achieve similar success in the NFL.

“I always believed the coaches know best and (edge rusher is) the best position the coaches thought I could play," Leo revealed about his college coaches. "So, I just listened to my coach and committed to it. I just followed the process of football, just listened to my coaches. That’s really all it was. I just kept on grinding, kept my head down and just tried to keep getting better every single day at it.”

The Colts have had success finding diamonds in the rough with small-school prospects. If Leo goes from scratching the surface to reaching his potential, Indy might have found another one.