INDIANAPOLIS – Joe Philbin is going to kick his feet up quite high on Saturday night.
The Colts closed out their 2016 Draft with Iowa center Austin Blythe being selected with pick No. 248, which they acquired from Green Bay.
Blythe was a four-year starter at Iowa, a school that has been quite good to the Colts (Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, Pat Angerer).
Getting To Know Austin Blythe-Why Blythe?
The Colts are getting a four-year starter in Blythe (51 games). Blythe started at right guard in 2012 and then started at center for his final three seasons at Iowa. Blythe was a finalist for the Rimington Award, given to college football's best center. Of course, Ryan Kelly took home that hardware in 2015.-Wrestling Background
Growing up in Iowa, Blythe has an immense wrestling pedigree. Blythe was a three-time Iowa State Wrestling Champion and set a state record with 143 career pins. That combativeness is easily translated to the trenches for the 6-3, 290-pound center.-Offensive Line Bulk
When the Colts took Blythe at the end of Round Seven, he was in the midst of talking to another team about signing as an undrafted free agent. His wife quickly handed him the phone where the Colts wanted one more offensive lineman. Blythe brings the count to four linemen in the 2016 Draft Class (half of the eight-man haul). New line coach Joe Philbin, who coached at Iowa previously, attended Blythe's Pro Day.
