Indiapolis Colts Second Compensatory Selection, 202nd overall: Mike
Hart, Running Back, Michigan:
Hart was an extraordinarily productive and dependable starter for the Wolverines
throughout his career in Ann Arbor, appearing 43 games with 1,015 rushes for
5,040 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Those numbers are impressive against any level of competition, nonetheless
the Big 10, where everyone seems to be focused on running the ball and stopping
the run year to year.
A number of teams, though, were hesitant to pull the trigger on Hart, based
on his pedestrian 40 time of 4.76. Bill Polian was not scared away and was pleased
when Hart was available towards the end of Round 6.
"I think the 40 time scared a lot of people away," Polian said on
the NFL Network shortly after the selection. "But in the end we had such
respect for his playing ability and his measurables ... and the lack of fumbles,
durability, and work ethic. So we said forget about the 40, and we had a back
here that unfortunately had his career cut short by a knee injury named James
Mungro and he was very, very similar to Hart."