The Indianapolis Colts are hosting a meeting with a player ahead of the NFL Draft whose size and athletic abilities are nearly unheard of.
When it comes to the NFL Draft, it's always best for teams to leave no stone unturned. That's the Indianapolis Colts' thought process as they host defensive tackle prospect Uar Bernard, per Luca Evans of The Denver Post.
The 21-year-old prospect from Nigeria is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, and he burst onto the scene last week while taking part in the pre-draft HBCU showcase, thanks to the reporting of Bruce Feldman from The Athletic.
Bernard's measurements grabbed enough attention, measuring in at 6'4-1/2" and 306 pounds, with 11-inch hands, arms just under 36 inches long, and a wingspan over seven feet. However, it was how his body exploded with all that size that blew people's minds.
He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds (10-yard split of 1.58), had a vertical leap of 39 inches, a broad jump of 10'6", and bench pressed 225 pounds 31 times. He also had a 4.57-second short shuttle and a three-cone of 8.13.
Among the all-time ranks at the NFL Combine, Bernard's vertical and broad jumps would've been the best ever. His 40 would've been second only to Adetomiwa Adebawore, who is entering his fourth season in the NFL with the Colts. Adebawore also holds the vertical and broad jump Combine records for defensive tackles.
“Hands down, (Bernard) is the most explosive athlete I’ve ever seen in my life,” trainer Jordan Luallen told Feldman. “He broad jumped 10-10, and it was effortless. At 306 pounds. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Bernard only recently discovered football when he was invited to a camp in Nigeria in 2024. Prior to that, he had taken up basketball at 16.
In addition to visits already scheduled with the Colts and Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings have all expressed legitimate interest in visiting, according to NFL analyst Ryan Fowler.
As a member of the IPP, Bernard would count as an extra spot on a team's roster during the offseason, as well as if he is signed to the practice squad when the regular season begins.
The Colts are active participants in the IPP, signing players such as Marcel Dabo and Maximilian Mang in recent years. They currently do not have a player using the IPP exemption.
Bernard could be an intriguing developmental prospect for the Colts at defensive tackle, where they will need some help in the coming years. Current Colts DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Jerry Tillery, and Derrick Nnadi will all be at least 30 years old by the time the 2026 season is over. The Colts also have two 25-year-olds, Adebnawore and Colby Wooden, who are entering the final year of their contracts.