Temple Football: Rock Ya-Sin to join Nate Hairston and the Indianapolis Colts
After failing to hear his name called in the first round, Rock Ya-Sin is set to join fellow Temple alum Nate Harrison and the Indianapolis Colts as the 34th overall pick.
Welp, after failing to hear his name called in the first round, ex-Temple Owls cornerback Rock Ya-Sin didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called on Day 2 as he was selected 34th overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
And best of all, he’s actually joining a secondary that already features a former Owl in its ranks.
While he may not be a household name, the Colts (under a previous administration) selected Nate Hairston in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he’s quietly developed into a more than solid corner with the club.
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Fortunately for Ya-Sin, Hairston plays predominantly in the slot.
With Kenny Moore the Colts’ only returning cornerback locked in onto a starting spot outside, Ya-Sin will presumably compete for a starting spot from day one against the likes of recently re-signed 28-year-old Pierre Desir, and 2017 second round pick Quincy Wilson.
But as fans in the 215 already know, Ya-Sin is not a player adverse to competition.
After spending three seasons playing for Presbyterian, Ya-Sin transferred into Temple and immediately worked his way into the starting lineup; playing in all 12 games for the Owls while 36 solo tackles, 12 passes defensed, and a pair of interceptions.
Now the Colts decision to select Ya-Sin is mildly questionable, as the team predominantly runs a zone-heavy 4-3 scheme, whereas Temple played man coverage almost exclusively (as per ESPN Colts reporter Mike Wells), but after running a 4.51 40 at the combine, and highlighting his aggressiveness at the 2019 Reeses Senior Bowl, it’s safe to say Rock is going to bring the noise in Indianapolis.
While it’s not quite the same as being a first-round pick, which comes with a bigger paycheck and a fifth-year option, joining a team with the potential to start right away has to be viewed as a positive for any player selected in the NFL Draft, especially for a cornerback that very few people assumed would have a professional football career when he was playing for a small Christian school in the south.
Next. Grading the NFC East’s Day 1 selections. dark
No, with his selection now official (just check out the team’s website), Rock Ya-Sin joins the ranks of Tavon Young (who just got paid), Sean Chandler, and his new teammate Nate Hairston as former Temple Owls who’ve successfully made the transition from North Philly and the Linc to spots on NFL rosters; a ringing endorsement for a school that’s consistently putting out quality players, regardless of who’s calling the plays.