INDIANAPOLIS – Orono, Maine, a town of just over 10,000 people was where the Colts went to find their pass rusher in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Waiting there was Trevor Bates.
Direct flights to Orono are scarce, but the Colts made sure they did their due diligence in getting to the middle of Maine.
"We sent Coach (Jim) Herrmann out to Orono, Maine on some like 20-seat plane," Ryan Grigson said of having the Colts' veteran linebackers coach go and scout Bates. "I said if (Herrmann) likes him he must really like him. It's not easy to get to Orono. Usually guys don't even go in there. They scout at other programs that are four hours south of there.
"He really liked him."
Herrmann liked the motor, saw special teams capabilities and a player who can do multiple things for what the Colts are looking for from the outside linebacker.
Bates' 17.0 sacks in his final three seasons at Maine showed off the pass rushing, but looking closer at his stats and you can see his ability to impact the game in other ways.
As a junior defensive end, Bates had seven pass deflections and three interceptions, earning team MVP honors.
"I'm violent and very, very relentless with my effort," Bates says.
"I think that's something that sticks out on my film and in my style of play."
Growing up in Maine, Bates' first love was baseball.
Eventually though he grew into a football player, lining up all over the field.
Bates' high school positions included time at defensive tackle, punter, kick returner and some offensive snaps at fullback and tight end.
The Colts' hope is that they can groom Bates behind a trio of veteran pass rushers (Robert Mathis, Erik Walden and Trent Cole).
Along with multiple edge options in the undrafted free agent class, the Colts should have room for at least one young pass rusher on the team's final roster.
Will it be Bates?
"He can run (and) he's a physical guy," Pagano says of Bates. "They played him along the defensive front. He played some six technique, some seven technique. He's done a lot of things.
"We're excited to have him."
