INDIANAPOLIS – Most of the 60-some players had finished their local Pro Day audition in front of the Indianapolis Colts Monday afternoon.
They walked to the end of the indoor practice field, picked up their personal belongings and either headed to the lunch room or the parking lot.
Carson Steele remained at midfield for several minutes.
He was back home – sort of – and had some catching up to do with general manager Chris Ballard and director of college scouting Matt Terpening.
Steele’s roots stretch to Center Grove High School where he led the Trojans to the 2020 Class 6A state championship and was named Indiana’s Mr. Football. Ballard resides in Westfield; oldest son Cole was a standout quarterback for the Shamrocks who’s currently at Kansas while Cash is an offensive lineman.
“We’ve always had a little connection,’’ Steele said with a smile. “He’s a Westfield kind of guy. We have that little bit of beef here and there.
“He’s a great guy and he knows my coach really well at Ball State, coach (Mike) Neu.’’
Trading barbs and small talk with Ballard, though, was just a small part of Steele’s homecoming.
He was back in central Indiana after a circuitous journey that’s taken him from his hometown of Greenwood to Ball State University in Muncie to UCLA and back to the Colts’ Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
“What an opportunity to come back home, come show off for your state,’’ Steele said.
Adding to the moment was the presence of Austin Booker, Steele’s former prep teammate and a defensive end prospect out of Kansas.
This is where Steele envisioned himself being all along: on an NFL field, working out for NFL coaches, being evaluated as the April 25-27 NFL draft nears.
He’s 6-1, 225 pounds. He was his team’s leading rusher the past two seasons – 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns for Ball State in 2022, 847 yards after transferring to UCLA last season.
“It’s every little kid’s dream to come in and play football, especially for your hometown (team), being able to come and train here,’’ Steele said. “This is the one big thing I always thought about . . . my goal.’’
It’s been a goal realized – he hopes there’s much more to come – despite adversity and skeptics.
Steele’s high school career included foot surgery as a junior and hamstring injuries. It all came together as a senior when he rushed for 1,659 yards and 31 touchdowns as Center Grove finished 14-0 and won a state title. His prep career included 5,907 yards, 82 TDs and 16 single-season or career school records.
“Then COVID happened and you weren’t able to visit,’’ he said. “Then going to a MAC school . . . a lot of people doubted me playing at a higher level.’’
After two years with Ball State and leading the MAC and finishing ninth in the nation with 1,566 yards in 2022, Steele decided it was in his best interest to depart Ball State for UCLA.
“Going to the Pac-12, playing some bigger schools, especially the coaching as well,’’ he said. “I got coaching from coach (Chip) Kelly and DeShaun Foster.’’
Foster, who has succeeded Kelly as the Bruins’ head coach, had a productive six-year NFL career with Carolina and San Francisco.
“Learning from them,’’ Steele said, “pushed my game up to another level.’’
Steele led UCLA in rushing, including a 141-yard outing against Washington State, and did so despite dealing with a sports hernia that was discovered early in the year and required after the season.
“(I’m) 100%. Everything’s good,’’ Steele said.
But the doubters remained, adding further motivation.
When the NFL Scouting Combine returned to Indy in February, 321 individuals were invited.
Carson Steele’s name wasn’t on the list.
“That kind of crushed me a little bit,’’ he admitted. “But I took it as motivation.
“If anything was going to happen, I was going to be the kid who didn’t get the invite, (got) cheated out of it.’’
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Steele has had several Zoom calls with teams along with visits with, among others, the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders. There’s another set up with Kansas City.
NFL scouts view him as a 225-pound thumper who initially might contribute as a blocker or receiver out of the backfield, and on special teams.
All Steele wants is another opportunity to prove he belongs.
“Just having the opportunity to be on an NFL field, that’s the only thing I’m hoping for,’’ he said.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.