After roaming around Missouri's defensive backfield for four seasons, Jaylon Carlies will be making the move to linebacker with the Colts.
"At Mizzou, I was primarily a safety. That was my position my sophomore to senior year," Carlies said. "But just in terms of the kinds of schemes that we would run, it kind of seemed like my role would come down to being more of an outside linebacker in certain coverages and certain formations that we had drawn up.
"Just depending on who we played as well. If we were playing a lot of run-heavy teams, I probably had a lot more outside linebacker kind of position plays going on. But if we're playing a lot of pass coverage then I'm mainly lining up at safety."
For Carlies, it didn't much matter where he lined up, because he was so productive in his four seasons with the Tigers.
He racked up 220 career tackles along with 11.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, nine interceptions and three forced fumbles.
The Colts added to their defense on Saturday, selecting Missouri linebacker Jaylon Carlies in the fifth round (No. 151 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson, left, runs past Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
East's Jaylon Carlies, of Missouri, lines up during the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisiana Tech wide receiver Tre Harris runs with the ball as Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies, right, defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 1, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs with the ball as Missouri defensive backs Jaylon Carlies and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (2) defend during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri's Jaylon Carlies reacts after a missed field goal by Ohio State place-kicker Jayden Fielding during the second half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) carries the ball as he gets around Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) is stopped by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo.(AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) tries to get away from Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) and linebacker Triston Newson during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Missouri defensive back Tre'Vez Johnson (4) and defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) celebrate during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Michelle Haas Hutchins)
Texas A&M running back Devon Achane, right, scores a touchdown in front of Missouri's Jaylon Carlies, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies, left, intercepts the ball in front of Central Michigan wide receiver Finn Hogan, right, during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Abilene Christian Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Vanderbilt running back Patrick Smith (42) is grabbed by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies (1) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies catches a ball during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Arkansas running back Trelon Smith (22) is tackled by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies participates in the bench press at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
East's Jaylon Carlies, of Missouri, rushes during the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) celebrates with defensive back Daylan Carnell (13) after intercepting a Wake Forest pass during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Central Michigan running back Marion Lukes, left, tries to run past Missouri's Jaylon Carlies, right, during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Doug Benc/AP Images for the NFL)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Florida quarterback Max Brown runs with the ball as Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies, right, defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won 33-31. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
East's Jaylon Carlies, of Missouri, defends during the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry (9) is taken down by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) after a catch during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Vanderbilt's Will Sheppard, right, is tackled by Missouri defensive back Jaylon Carlies, left, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
The Colts drafted Carlies in the fifth round with the No. 151 pick.
Undaunted by the task of changing positions, Carlies said his experience moving around on defense prepared him for the switch.
"I'm comfortable playing either spot and I feel like that's another reason they took that chance on me as well," Carlies said. "Just knowing I'm somebody who will be able to be comfortable showing my versatility playing linebacker as well."
Though he knows it will be a learning curve, Carlies said he's grateful for the chance to show the team that he can handle it.
"I feel like it'll help me a lot just knowing that at the end of the day, you're just still playing football," Carlies said. "It's really what I came here to do and it's what the Colts blessed me with the opportunity to keep doing. So, I'm just coming in, making sure I'm giving them my all and showing them that they didn't waste their pick."
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