After being placed on injured reserve with the Indianapolis Colts last year in his rookie season, former Bradwell Institute and Georgia State University offensive lineman Ulrick John has made the NFL team’s 90-man roster.

John was the first Liberty County native to be selected in the NFL Draft when he was picked in the seventh round last year. However, in his first NFL game — an exhibition game against the New York Jets — he sustained a broken ankle.

According to Colts.com writer Kevin Bowen, the team’s coaching staff thinks highly of John, and he has a strong chance of being part of the offensive-line rotation this season.

In an article posted May 8 on IndyStar.com, John told reporter Stephen Holder, “As long as I can come in and show I can compete, I can give myself a shot to maybe not start, but be a key backup. I’m willing to go wherever. If they tell me to go out and run a route, I’m going to go run that route to the best of my ability. It may not be fast, but I’m going to get there.”

John said he has increased his weight from 290 pounds to 310 and added that being able to be present at the Colts’ workouts and training last year helped him learn the system.

“I think my football smarts (developed),” he told Holder. “Even though I was injured, I still went to meetings every single day throughout the season. I would just sit in there and learn everything, from how we game plan to learning all the plays and everything. Even though I was injured, (General Manager) Ryan Grigson told me that maybe it was a blessing in disguise.”