When you think of the Indianapolis Colts’ 2023 draft class, the names Anthony Richardson and Josh Downs come to mind. But what about JuJu Brents? You might’ve forgotten about him, seeing that he’s rarely played due to injury.
You can’t forget about Richardson since he’s the team’s starting quarterback (unless he loses his job to Daniel Jones). And Downs looks like a future Pro Bowler. The former North Carolina Tar Heel has emerged as one of Indy’s top wide receivers.
Although Brents hasn’t seen the field much, the young cornerback could still develop into a star down the road if he ever manages to stay healthy.
Will Cornerback JuJu Brents Ever Become an Impact Player for the Indianapolis Colts?
Looking Back at His Career
JuJu Brents was born and raised in Indianapolis. He attended Warren Central High School, which is located on the city’s east side. Brents grew up being a fan of superstar quarterback Peyton Manning and hard-hitting safety Bob Sanders. Those two are certainly Colts legends and were fun to watch during the 2000s.
Brents began his collegiate career playing for Iowa just like his childhood hero, Bob Sanders. Yet, he struggled to stay on the field. He played a total of seven games during his two seasons with the Hawkeyes. Brents later transferred to Kansas State. He became a star for the Wildcats, recording 49 tackles and an interception in 2021. In 2022, he had 45 tackles and four interceptions, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team.
The Colts selected Brents in the second round (44th overall pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is one of only four Indianapolis-born players to ever be drafted by the Colts. Jeff George (1990), Anthony Johnson (1990), and Lamont Warren (1994) were the first three. As a rookie, Brents started right of his nine games due to injury. He appeared in just two contests last season.
The Potential Is There
Colts general manager Chris Ballard isn’t usually aggressive when it comes to free agency. However, he certainly changed his strategy this year. Not only did he sign safety Camryn Bynum, but he also landed fellow free agent Charvarius Ward on Day One of free agency.
Ward is considered one of the league’s top cornerbacks. He helped Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV. Then as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded five interceptions and 23 passes defensed in 2023. He was named a Second-Team All-Pro that year.
Ward, of course, is expected to start for the Colts in 2025. Kenny Moore II and Jaylon Jones will likely be the other two starting cornerbacks. That means Brents lost his starting spot and will have to come off the bench.
If Brents can shake off the dreaded injury bug, he can still develop into a valuable contributor. The 6-foot-3 Indy native has the potential to be a big-time performer. He possesses a combination of athleticism, length, toughness, and physicality. Those are the traits needed to become a top-notch NFL cornerback. It’ll be interesting to see if he can make a major impact on his hometown team and help a Colts secondary that struggled in 2024.
Main Photo: Marc Lebryk – Imagn Images
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