According to an article posted on indystar.com, former Bradwell Institute and Georgia State football player Ulrick John on Thursday signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
John became the first Liberty Countian to be drafted by an NFL team when he went in the seventh round of the 2014 draft last weekend.
The Indianapolis Star reported that the terms of the draft picks’ contracts were not immediately available, but in keeping with the NFL’s rookie wage scale, John’s contract is valued at about $2.2 million.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he also received a $49,000 signing bonus.
Colts.com writer Kevin Bowen said Colts officials had their eyes on John throughout the draft, and the team was pleased with how John performed against Alabama and West Virginia during his final season at Georgia State.
“John was brought to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for a pre-draft visit and further interaction, and a private workout with offensive-line coach Joe Gilbert sold the Colts on the Georgia State tackle,” Bowen wrote.
He also reported that Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said John is a true left-tackle prospect and a developmental guy.
According to the article, the Colts plan to have John hit the weight room to add bulk to his already-muscular physique.
Grigson told Bowen, “He’s competitive, but he’s very athletic and he’s got room to grow. I’d like to see how he looks a year from now with (strength coach) Roger Marandino and our weight program, because we feel like he has some upside. … It’s going to be interesting to see how he develops, because the athletic core and character, size and all those things are there, and he knows how to play the game.”