INDIANAPOLIS — They’re always the focus as the seventh round of the NFL draft winds down.
They’re intriguing prospects who, for whatever reason, weren’t quite intriguing enough to warrant a late selection.
They’re undrafted rookie free agents.
Back in the day, think of Dominic Rhodes, Gary Brackett and Terrance Wilkins.
More recently, there’s Mo Alie-Cox, Rigoberto Sanchez, Ashton Dulin, Dallis Flowers and Wesley French.
Here’s a quick look at the seven undrafted players who were signed and are going through rookie minicamp:
*QB/WR Jason Bean, Kansas: An athletic 6-1, 196-pounder who is being given a chance to earn a roster spot at two positions. Started 30 of 51 games at Kansas and North Texas State and completed 414-of-699 passes for 5,969 yards with 55 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. His versatility led to rushing 251 times for 1,344 yards and 14 TDs. Last year at Kansas, Bean passed for 2,130 yards with 18 TDs and seven interceptions.
Bean got to know Chris Ballard last year when the general manager’s son, Cole, was a freshman QB at Kansas.
*RB Trent Pennix, North Carolina State: Another versatile prospect. The 6-2, 234-pounder shuffled between tight end and running back during his 54-game career. He finished with 55 receptions for 712 yards and 11 TDs. Pennix also rushed 41 times for 240 yards and one TD.
*K Spencer Shrader, Notre Dame: Converted 43-of-63 field goals and 156-of-158 PATS for Notre Dame (2023) and the University of South Florida. In 2023, Shrader made 15-of-22 field goal attempts and was 61-of-62 on PATs. Shrader was born in Indy.
*QB Kedon Slovis, BYU: Slovis started 45 of 46 career games at BYU (2023), Pittsburgh (2022) and Southern Cal (2019-21), and his freshman year with the Trojans was the highlight. With Colts’ wideout Michael Pittman Jr. among his targets in 2019, Slovis completed 282-of-392 passes (72%) for 3,502 yards with 30 TDs and nine interceptions.
Overall, he’s passed for 11,689 yards with 80 TDs and 39 interceptions. Last year at BYU, Slovis started eight games and completed 153-of-266 passes for 1,716 with 12 TDs and six interceptions.
*G Dalton Tucker, Marshall: Started 30 of 51 games with 22 at right guard, five at right tackle and three at left tackle. Tucker started all 13 games as a senior wit 10 at right guard and three at right tackle.
*WR Xavier White, Texas Tech: Yet another versatile rookie. In 51 games, White collected 133 receptions, 1,524 yards and six TDs; rushed 136 times for 754 yards and five TDs; returned 19 kickoffs for 407 yards and five punts for 46 yards. In 2023, White had 39 receptions for a team-best 556 yards and one TD.
*LB Craig Young, Kansas: Started 24 of 49 games at Kansas (2022-23) and Ohio State (2019-21) and finished with 126 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, three interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Young is a product of Wayne High School in Fort Wayne.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
