(Photo: U of A Athletics)

By Troy Gillard and Josh Hall

Racing to Indy

Red Deer’s Carter O’Donnell signs with NFL’s Colts

Apr 25, 2020 | 7:01 PM

Red Deer gridiron star Carter O’Donnell has signed with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.

The former Lindsay Thurber Raider spent the last four seasons anchoring the offensive line for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and was a U Sports All-Canadian in 2019.

“There’s always a chance, but it didn’t work out,” he says of not being selected in this week’s NFL Draft, where he thought he may go to Tampa or Buffalo.

“I’d been talking with Indianapolis since December, and the teams I’d been talking to leading up to the draft didn’t end up taking me. I’m not really disappointed about that part.”

On the phone to rdnewsNOW Sunday, O’Donnell said Indy has expressed that they like his passion and intangibles, including his physical ability.

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Agreeing that it’s accurate to call this a dream come true, O’Donnell adds, “It’s still pretty surreal. It’s crazy and I’ve just got to keep working and working. The work in and of itself is the reward.”

And although he’s never been to Indianapolis, O’Donnell says it would be a “great honour” to fly the Canadian flag in the NFL for that market.

“I really like the coaching staff there. They’ve got really great facilities obviously,” he says. “They’ve had a very good O-line the last couple years, with a Pro-Bowler and First Team All Pro. All that stuff is very attractive.”

In January, O’Donnell played in the East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game is a chance for the best players to showcase their talents for scouts from the NFL and CFL. O’Donnell, listed at 6’6” and 315 pounds, was one of just two U Sports players invited to the Shrine Bowl and started at right tackle for Team West.

O’Donnell, who is 21 and an Education student with a major in chemistry and minor in physics, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent following completion of Saturday’s 2020 NFL Draft. He’s also a top-ranked prospect for the 2020 CFL Draft this Thursday, April 30.