Indiana LB Aaron Casey - Photo by Indiana Athletics
The 2024 Indiana Pro Day was held on March 5th, and six players got the chance to show off their skills one more time. Here is a look at who participated, their draft projections, what NFL teams were present, and overall how it went.
Indiana Pro Day Participants
There were six participants in the Pro Day, according to Sports Illustrated. The players are Noah Pierre, Josh Henderson, DeQuece Carter, Aaron Casey, Andre Carter, and Christian Turner. Of this list, Aaron Casey may be the most notable, but other players impressed. Here is a look at each player, and their draft projections.
Noah Pierre – DB
Pierre is a sixth-year defensive back out of Indiana. In his six seasons, he has had 103 total tackles, 74 solo, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also has defended nine passes, caught one interception, forced three fumbles, and recovered one. He was recently cleared to play football again back in January following a hip injury.
Pierre had the highest vertical jump at the Indiana Pro Day, reaching 37.5″. Pierre can say his Pro Day went successful, and he did. He spoke to the media at the end of the day stating, “I hit the numbers I wanted to hit. I had my family come out and watch me, which was a blessing and something they always wanted to do. So I feel I performed very well.” A history of injuries will most likely cause Pierre to fall, becoming an undrafted free agent, but he will continue to push for a team to give him a chance.
Josh Henderson – RB
Henderson is a fifth-year running back out of Indiana. Though finishing as a Hoosier, his first three seasons were with North Carolina. In five years, Henderson rushed the ball 212 times for 944 yards and six touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He also had ten receptions for 409 yards and one touchdown.
Henderson only played eight games in 2023. His lack of playing time as a running back will most likely cause him to go undrafted. He did not receive an invite to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and it is important in his draft preparations for him to take these chances to show off his skills.
Christian Turner – RB
Another running back coming out of Indiana is Turner. The running back spent six years playing college football. Three of those years were with Michigan, two were with Wake Forest, and one with Indiana. In six seasons, Turner has had 370 rushing attempts for 1,515 yards and 15 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Indiana did not run the ball well in 2023 between Turner, Henderson, and the other players on the team. This Pro Day was an important one for the two running backs who are looking to continue playing football.
DeQuece Carter – WR
Fifth-year wide receiver, Carter, also got the chance to participate in the Indiana Pro Day. Carter’s first four seasons were with Fordham before joining Indiana in 2023. Carter only had 23 receptions in 2023 for 395 yards and three touchdowns, according to ESPN. Indiana did struggle this past season, but in the long run, this is not great for Carter. Carter is another player to expect to go as an undrafted free agent.
Aaron Casey – LB
Sixth-year linebacker, Casey, is the top name coming out of Indiana this year. He spent all six seasons of his collegiate career with the Hoosiers. In his time, he had 240 total tackles, 156 solo, 36 tackles for loss, and ten sacks, according to Sports Reference. He also defended five passes and forced five fumbles. Casey is a physical athlete that could be seen in the NFL Draft this year. He should be watched for in the later rounds
Andre Carter – DL
Carter, a sixth-year player from Indiana got the opportunity to participate in the Pro Day. He spent his first five seasons with Western Michigan before transferring to Indiana in 2023. In his six years of college football, he had 184 total tackles, 96 solo, and 40 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. He also has had 16 sacks and defended five passes. Carter is another physical player coming out of Indiana this year.
Carter is being discussed as another late-round steal from Indiana. He and Casey are the two players to watch for. In the bench press during the Indiana Pro Day, Carter reached 33 reps. If Carter had attended the 2024 NFL Combine he would have had the third most reps out of everyone. His strength will be a big factor if he sneaks into the third day of the draft.
What NFL Teams Were There?
There were several teams in attendance for the Indiana Pro Day. Some of the teams are the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Indiana Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and more. These teams could find valuable late picks, or free agents down the line.
What’s Next?
To put it simply, next up is the 2024 NFL Draft. The draft will take place April 25th-27th. There will also be local Pro Days for the players to attend and pre-draft meetings. There may not be many Indiana players named on draft day, but there is a chance that the Indiana Pro Day boosted some players’ draft stocks. Either way, these players can go undrafted, but still be signed to a team.
