INDIANAPOLIS – Before their first day on the practice field as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, it was all about the numbers.
That would be jersey 97 – not 15 – for Laiatu Latu.
And 10 for Adonai Mitchell.
There’s a motivational story behind each decision.
Shortly after the Colts used the 15th overall pick in the April draft on Latu, the edge rusher out of UCLA, who wore 15 for two years with the Bruins, had a vision of wearing the same number in the NFL. Trouble is, that already had been handed out to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
As it turns out, Latu, 24, had too much respect for his elder. Flacco, 39, is the oldest Colt.
“I’m a little hesitant to walk up to Joe Flacco,’’ Latu said with a smile following Friday’s rookie minicamp session. “I’m respectful towards him.’’
Plan B was grabbing a jersey in the 90s.
“I learned when I got here the whole history behind the 90s numbers,’’ Latu said.
Robert Mathis set the franchise sack record while flashing 98. Dwight Freeney’s 93 was a number of note every week for offensive coordinators and quarterbacks.
“Both going into the Hall of Fame,’’ Latu said.
Well, yes and not yet.
Freeney will be enshrined as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. Mathis has been among the final 25 modern-era candidates, but has yet to gain sufficient traction.
“You’ve DeForest Buckner, one of the best d-linemen to ever play wearing 99,’’ Latu said. “I got to pick either between 97 and 57.
“When they told me that, I’m like, ‘I’m rocking with the 90s.’’’
The Colts hope their latest first-round pick is able to approach the standards that have been set, numerically speaking.
Assistant general manager Ed Dodds said there was a consensus among the scouting staff regarding Latu’s potential. The 6-5, 265-pounder piled up 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in two seasons at UCLA.
“There are certain guys throughout that whole process when we start in February (that) within the first 10 snaps you’re like, ‘This is a real dude,’’’ Dodds said. “Throughout the whole process, the whole room was kind of like, ‘This is one of the best players in the draft.’
“We felt that way, unified the whole way through.’’
After the Colts showed their commitment by taking him No. 15 overall and signing him to a guaranteed four-year, $17.03 million contract, Latu returned the favor.
He had a horseshoe tattoo stenciled on his upper right arm.
“Let’s go,’’ he said on social media. “Colt for life.’’
Friday, Latu explained “This place has changed my life.’’
“I come in this building and today I want to give it my all to coach (Shane) Steichen to Chris Ballard to Jim Irsay and to the rest of the team,’’ he said. “I really want to lay it out there for everybody involved in this program.’’
More motivation
Motivation also drove Mitchell’s decision to select jersey 10.
That’s how many receivers were taken ahead of him in the draft, and he made his disgust known when he talked with the local media after round 2 on April 26. The Colts ended his long wait by selecting him with the 52nd overall pick.
Undoubtedly you remember Mitchell’s initial response: “Right now, the only thing I’m kind of feeling is I’m kind of pissed. I don’t know what other way to call it.’’
He originally had selected another jersey.
“But I was up late just thinking about it,’’ he said. “I was like, ‘Let me get 10.’
“At the end of the day, it is what it is. I’m not bitter about it or anything like that. At the end of the day, it was between me and them and they got picked. That’s all motivation.’’
Mitchell was asked if he could name the 10 receivers taken ahead of him.
“Nah,’’ he said. “Don’t nobody got a name, nobody got a face.’’
For the record, here’s the 10: Marvin Harrison Jr. Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas, Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette in round 1 followed by Keon Coleman, Ladd McConkey and Ja’Lynn Polk in round 2.
Dodds smiled when asked about the edge Mitchell brings to the roster.
“I mean, he’s competitive,’’ he said. “You love that.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.