Posted by coltsindianapolis on May 5, 2016 – 8:00 pm

The Indianapolis Colts today agreed to terms with defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway, tackle Joe Haeg, linebacker Trevor Bates and center Austin Blythe.Ridgeway, 6-3, 314 pounds, was selected by the Colts in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He appeared in 36 games (18 starts) at Texas and totaled 92 tackles (58 solo), 9.5 sacks, one pass defensed and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown).

In 2015, Ridgeway played in 11 games (eight starts) and totaled 36 tackles (24 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a team-leading two fumble recoveries. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors and was named a First Team All-Big 12 choice by ESPN.com.

Haeg, 6-6, 304 pounds, was selected by Indianapolis in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was a four-year starter and helped lead North Dakota State to the NCAA Division I FCS National Championship all five years he was a member of the program. Haeg was a First Team All-America choice in 2014 and 2015 as the former walk-on saw action at both the right and left tackle spots during his collegiate career with the Bison. A 60-game starter, he garnered numerous honors throughout his time at North Dakota State, including being named to the 2015 Walter Camp FCS All-America Team, 2015 STATS All-America first-team and receiving an invite to the 2016 Senior Bowl.

As a senior in 2015, Haeg started all 15 games at left tackle and graded out at 91 percent during the regular season with 45 knockdowns in 11 games. He anchored an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks (1.07 per game) and tackles for loss (4.20 per game) in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Bates, 6-2, 245 pounds, was selected by the Colts in the seventh round (239th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He appeared in 46 games at Maine and finished with 207 tackles (106 solo), 19.0 sacks, 10 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Bates garnered various honors over his collegiate career including the team’s most valuable player, CFPA National Defensive Lineman of the Week, Second Team All-CAA, Third Team All-CAA, All-CAA Academic Honors and CAA Defensive Player of the Week.

In 2015, he played in 11 games for the Black Bears and totaled 57 tackles (31 solo), 7.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery (returned for a touchdown).

Blythe, 6-2, 291 pounds, was selected by Indianapolis in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He started 51-of-52 career games as a four-year starter at Iowa.

In 2015, Blythe helped bolster a Hawkeye offensive line that allowed the team to start the season 12-0 and earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl games. He was one of three finalists for the Rimington Award, given annually to the nation’s top center, after starting all 14 games as a senior captain. Blythe was an All-America third-team selection by The Associated Press and Athlon Sports, an All-America fourth-team choice by Phil Steele and earned All-America honorable mention accolades from SI.com. He was also a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree by the league’s coaches and media, The Associated Press and Phil Steele.

For more information, visit the Colts media website, media.colts.com.

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