Conner finishes drive, finds out he is an Indianpolis Colt

Conner is the first selection from Clemson by the Colts since 1982 when they drafted center Tony Berryhill, the starting center on Clemson’s national championship team.

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Apr 24 17:43:19 GMT-04:00 2010

Kavell Conner had just returned from driving the streets of Charleston when “the call” came in.

Conner, the former Clemson linebacker, is vacationing with Durrell Barry and other former Tiger players in Charleston, and decided that taking a drive might help him get his mind off of the 2010 NFL Draft. He had just returned and sat down when he learned the news that he had been waiting to hear.

The Indianapolis Colts had selected Conner, Clemson’s top tackler over the last two years, with a seventh round pick, the 240th selection overall.

“I had just finished driving around, from trying to ease my mind, and got on the computer to check on the draft,” Conner said. “I had only been sitting there for a minute when the phone rang, and I knew it was the Colts organization. I knew it was their number because one of their scouts had called me previously and told me I had chance to be picked with a pick coming up.”

The caller was Colts General Manager Bill Polian, who told Conner that he had spoken with Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, and Polian wanted to know if Conner was ready to be an Indianapolis Colt.

The answer, of course, was yes.

“I told him I was ecstatic to be an Indianapolis Colt,” Conner said. “I told him I was happy to be a part of a great franchise. It was just a great moment and one I will definitely never forget. They have great coaches who know and understand the game. They have veterans who know how to lead the team, and I am happy to be a part of that. They have some older guys, and I feel like I can feed off of them and learn a lot.”

Conner said he will report to the Colts late next week for mini-camp, and said he can’t wait to get on the field and prove he belongs. He said he realizes that as a seventh round pick, nothing is guaranteed and he knows he will have to fight for everything he gets.

“I have been under-rated by people my whole life,” he said. “Everything I have gotten, I have had to work for. That is just a part of the process. Hard work is mandatory. Nothing is achieved without working hard, and I don’t mind. I am looking forward to it.”