INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts weren't done adding at the quarterback position.
In March, the team acquired new starter Carson Wentz in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, on Saturday, the Colts used a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to select standout Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Ehlinger will now get the chance to compete for the backup job with the team's two other quarterbacks: 2020 rookies Jacob Eason, a fourth-round pick by the Colts, and Jalen Morton, who went undrafted last year and signed a reserve/future contract with Indy in February.
"I had a lot of great meetings with them, just talking ball," Ehlinger said of his pre-draft contact with the Colts. "It was a great process and I really enjoyed talking with everybody. I'm just blessed to be a Colt, and I can't wait for what's to come."
Ehlinger had a decorated career at Texas, where he guided the Longhorns to 27 wins — the fourth-most in school history — and became Texas' seventh two-time team captain ever. A true dual-threat standout, Ehlinger played in 46 games with 43 starts, and completed 923-of-1,476 passes (62.5 percent) for 11,436 yards with 94 touchdowns to 27 interceptions. He also added 554 rushing attempts for 1,903 yards (3.4 avg.) and 33 scores on the ground.
Along the way, Ehlinger earned the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award in 2020, and was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection his senior year and honorable mention All-Big 12 pick his sophomore year. He also earned an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl, where the Colts got a solid look at his skillset while he absorbed NFL coaching.
"They don't come much tougher than Ehlinger at the position, and his intangibles are as good as you could ask for," NFL analyst wrote of Ehlinger in his NFL.com draft profile.
For his part, Ehlinger isn't expecting to come in and compete for a starting job right away with the Colts. But he does have a couple goals in mind for when he gets to Indianapolis and starts to work on his rookie season.
"I think, first off, just learning as much as possible. Learning what it takes to be successful at the next level," Ehlinger said. "Obviously, going into my rookie year there's going to be a lot of learning curves, and getting great coaching and learning as much as possible is my main objective. And doing whatever it takes to help the team be successful. I mean, at the end of the day, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make everybody in the organization better."
Ehlinger is also eager to not only learn from the likes of head coach Frank Reich — himself a former longtime NFL quarterback — but also Wentz, Eason and Morton.
"It's such a blessing to be able to work with (Reich)," Ehlinger said. "You know, I'm just trying to soak in the moment and grow as much as possible. Like I said, I'm just trying to learn as much as possible and grow as a quarterback. … So to be able to learn under him, I can't wait."
After trading down 12 spots with the New Orleans Saints, the Colts used their third selection of Day 3 of the NFL Draft (218th overall) to pick Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) during the first half/second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to pass against Kansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to pass against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) throws against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas,Tx, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to throw against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas,Tx, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) prepares scrambles against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas,Tx, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to throw against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas,Tx, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) reacts as he score a touchdown against Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) throws against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 file photo, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger celebrates a touchdown against Utah during the first half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio. For Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, each day of summer workouts and training camp felt like uneasy steps toward a season that might never come. And even with his team's first kickoff coming Saturday night, Ehlinger holds his breath worrying that the coronavirus pandemic could still derail everything. (AP Photo/Austin Gay, FIle)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to pass against UTEP during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
FILE - Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) throws against Louisiana Tech during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Ehlinger is a candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) and teammates sing the school song as they celebrate a win over Utah in the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Texas won 38-10. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) is lifted by Zach Shackelford (56) as they celebrate a touchdown against Utah during the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Austin Gay)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) celebrates a touchdown against Utah during the first half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Austin Gay)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger runs up field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 23-21. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 23-21. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) calls a time out in an NCAA college football game against Baylor in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to pass against Baylor in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) runs past Kansas State's Kyle Ball (44) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to pass against Kansas State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) during the first half/second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
Texas' Sam Ehlinger (11) runs against Kansas during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
