INDIANAPOLIS -- A few quick thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts' fourth-round pick:
The pick: Clayton Geathers, safety, Central Florida
My take: I’m a little surprised it took this long for the Colts to select a safety considering their need for depth at that position after the departures of LaRon Landry (released) and Sergio Brown (signed with Jacksonville). They re-signed veteran Mike Adams on March 10 and signed former Atlanta Falcons safety Dwight Lowery last month. Geathers can play either safety position, but he predominately played strong safety while at UCF. A key with coach Chuck Pagano’s defensive philosophy is that his safeties are interchangeable. Adams spent the majority of the time at strong safety last season. Geathers started his final 52 games at UCF. He finished with 97 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, and an interception last season.
A unique nickname: Geathers’ babysitter gave him the nickname “porcupine” as a kid because of his hair and when he played football in the yard nobody could touch him. He was all-state as a defensive back and running back in high school in South Carolina.
A family tradition: Geathers is the sixth member of his family to reach the NFL. His uncle Robert Sr. was a defensive tackle, his uncle Jumpy was a defensive end, cousin Robert Jr. was a defensive end, cousin Clifton, who was with the Colts in 2012, was also a defensive end and another cousin Kwame was a defensive tackle.
