Day 2: Colts add offensive line help; Purdue’s Short goes to Carolina
By PAUL SIEGFRIED
ISL Correspondent
Day two of the 2013 NFL Draft wrapped up on Friday with the completion of the second and third rounds.
The Indianapolis Colts added an offensive lineman in the third round, while Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short heard his name called early in the second round by the Carolina Panthers. After much speculation, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o was finally selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick (see separate story).
The Colts, who selected Florida State defensive end/linebacker Bjoern Werner with their first-round choice on Thursday, added Illinois guard Hugh Thornton in the third round, No. 86 overall. Indianapolis did not have a second-round choice, trading it to the Miami Dolphins a year ago for cornerback Vontae Davis.
Thornton, at 6-3, 320 pounds, was a three-year starter for the Illini, where he played three different positions ” left tackle, right tackle and left guard. He projects as a guard in the pros. Known as a good athlete with a nasty streak, Thornton has long arms and a good punch.
Growing up in Jamaica, Thornton’s mother and sister were murdered in 2004 while he slept in another room. He moved to Idaho, where he won two state wrestling championships. Thornton was arrested twice during his time at Illinois, and also dealt with leg and knee injuries, which raised questions about his character and durability.
The offensive line was a major focus in free agency for the Colts, who added right tackle Gosder Cherilus and guard Donald Thomas. Anthony Castonzo returns at left tackle. Joe Reitz and Mike McGlynn are also back at guard, but will likely be challenged immediately by Thornton.
“We want to create a cauldron of competition,” said Colts GM Ryan Grigson. “You can never have enough good big men.”
The remaining four rounds of the draft will be held Saturday. The Colts have four picks left, including one in the fourth (121st overall), one in the sixth (192), and two in the seventh (230, 254).
Panthers grab former Purdue star
Short, a 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the Boilermakers in 2012. He finished with seven sacks, and set a school record with eight blocked kicks. He started 50 consecutive games at Purdue, and finished with 19.5 career sacks.
He bypassed declaring for the draft a year ago, and following a strong showing in this year’s Senior Bowl, was judged by draft experts as a possible first-round choice this year.
He wasn’t selected in Thursday’s first round, but early in the second round Friday, the Carolina Panthers took the Boilermaker off the board.
He’s the most natural pass rusher of all the defensive tackles in the draft,” Panthers GM Dave Gettleman said. “He was at the top of our board. We worked him out, we brought him in, spent time with him and we feel really good about this pick. It gives us a tremendous defensive line rotation.”
Short was the second defensive tackle taken in the draft by the Panthers. Carolina picked Utah’s Star Lotulelei with the No. 14 overall choice in Friday’s first round.
