After trading back twice, the Colts added to their defense in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, selecting Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents with the No. 44 overall pick.
Brents, a Warren Central graduate, intercepted six passes and broke up 12 passes over five seasons at Kansas State. He totaled 111 tackles and was named a first-team All-Big 12 player as a senior in 2022.
The 6-foot-3, 198 pound Brents ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 41.5-inch vertical leap (one inch higher than quarterback Anthony Richardson) at the NFL Combine earlier this year. He measured 34-inch arms with an 82 5/8-inch wingspan, and coupled with his height, makes him one of the rangiest cornerbacks in this year's NFL Draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote of Brents:
"Extraordinary height, length and wingspan for the position … aggressively uses his long arms at the line of scrimmage to disrupt route timing … fluid athlete to spring in any direction and transition well in his movements (6.63 3-cone and 4.05 short shuttle both ranked No. 2 among all players at the combine) … long-striding acceleration to stay in phase in man coverage … flashes a quick trigger once he sinks to close on plays … eagerly returns his eyes to the quarterback … functional zone-cover skills … has experience at both cornerback and safety … coachable and doesn't mind being challenged (KSU cornerbacks coach Van Malone: "He is one of the hardest workers on the team and has been since he arrived.") … started all 27 games at Kansas State the past two seasons."
Brents will join a Colts cornerback room that includes Kenny Moore II, Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Dallis Flowers, among others.
View photos of Kansas State CB Julius Brents, selected 44 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Julius Brents (23) defends during an NCAA football game against Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents lines up against Stanford during an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Iowa State wide receiver Sean Shaw Jr. (2) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown as Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents (23) defends during third quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents, left, knocks a pass away from Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents lines up against Stanford during an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents, top, breaks up a pass meant for Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. (17) tries to jump through the tackle by Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents (23) during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents (23) intercepts a pass intended for West Virginia wide receiver Reese Smith (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) is tackled by Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents (23) in the first half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents (23) looks to the scoreboard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
TCU wide receiver Blair Conwright (0) cannot make a reception in front of Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents (23) during the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
American defensive back Julius Brents of Kansas State breaks up a pas intended for American wide receiver Jonathan Mingo of Mississippi during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Kansas St. defensive back Julius Brents makes a catch at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Kansas St. defensive back Julius Brents performs the vertical jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Kansas St. defensive back Julius Brents prepares to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Kansas St. defensive back Julius Brents runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Kara Durrette via AP)
