Indianapolis Colts

Emerging Star Clayton Geathers Giving 'Enforcer-Like' Physicality to Colts Defense

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Despite an aging defense, the Indianapolis Colts have seemingly found a diamond in the rough regarding last year’s 4th round pick Clayton Geathers, who has all the makings of the franchise’s next standout safety.

Coming off of a dominant defensive performance, Indianapolis Colts safety Clayton Geathers is quickly emerging into one of the young stars in new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino‘s defense.

The promising 2nd-year safety finished with 6 tackles (5 solo), a tackle for loss, and the game-sealing forced fumble during last weekend’s 26-22 victory against the San Diego Chargers–earning himself a well-deserved game ball:

“He looked like one of the best, if not the best, players on the field,” said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano on Geathers’ play following the game via the Indy Star’s Stephen Holder. “He was all over the place.”

At a listed 6’2″, 220 pounds, Geathers is big enough to play linebacker, but having run a 4.55 forty time at the NFL Combine last year, is still fast enough to cover receivers:

“He’s almost like a ‘tweener’ in my opinion,” said Colts teammate D’Qwell Jackson via the Indianapolis Star. “He’s big enough to play linebacker and withstand all those big guys. But he’s fast enough to cover and do both.”

It showed this past Sunday, where Geathers showcased his speed and gave much needed physicality to the backend of the Colts secondary:

Clayton Geathers stops Melvin Gordon for a 1-yard loss https://t.co/XHPS878Q01

— Luke Schultheis (@LuckAtLukeVines) September 28, 2016

Melvin Gordon, Meet Clayton Geathers Again. https://t.co/4VlxcFRCp9

— Luke Schultheis (@LuckAtLukeVines) September 28, 2016

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts strong safety Clayton Geathers (26) looks on in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

While veteran Mike Adams has once again provided the Colts with Pro Bowl caliber play at safety this season, the team really hasn’t had a tone-setter like Geathers since former Colts legend Bob ‘The Hitman’ Sanders infamously roamed the team’s secondary between the sidelines at the position–like a tiger ready to lay waste to his prey.

With flowing ‘dreads and bulging biceps, while simultaneously donning the Horseshoe at safety, it’s an easy comparison to make.

However, Geathers isn’t necessarily Sanders, and that would be an unfair label for a young safety looking to make a name for himself and pave his own path. Nevertheless, Geathers brings the same rare qualities of toughness, hard-hitting, and physicality that this Colts defense has sorely lacked in recent seasons.

With Monachino looking to build an identity for his developing defense, Geathers could eventually become this unit’s ferocious face:

Most importantly, Geathers provides the Colts secondary with a game-changing, ‘enforcer’ type safety, who has the speed and strength to be one of the few dynamic players on this Colts defense going forward.

With plays like this, who could argue?

https://twitter.com/LuckAtLukeVines/status/781262638928039937