INDIANAPOLIS — Trapped inside the 6-2, 320-pound body of Johnathan Hankins is a running back longing to escape.

During his childhood in Detroit, a much smaller Hankins was a feared running back in pee wee football. Hankins’ idol was Jerome Bettis, a Hall of Fame running back and fellow Detroit native. Hankins said he ran like Bettis, punished tacklers like Bettis, and wanted to become an NFL running back like Bettis.

But then something derailed Hankins’ running back career. He kept growing.

“The way he looks now is the way he looked in high school,” said Donshell English, the current coach at Detroit Mumford who coached Hankins at Detroit Southeastern. “He’d tell you in a minute, ‘Man, I’m a running back.’ I took one look at Big Hank, as we call him, and said, 'Well, we don’t have 300-pound running backs.’’’

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Neither do the Indianapolis Colts. “Big Hank” is making big dollars playing defensive tackle in the NFL. He was the Colts’ largest addition in every way during free agency, signing a three-year deal that could pay up to $30 million with incentives, as the new centerpiece of the defensive front. The Colts aren’t paying Hankins to play running back. They are paying Hankins to squash running backs.

The Colts hope Hankins will be a disruptive force that brings a tougher identity to a revamped defensive unit. During this month’s organized team activities, Hankins has quickly tried to bring a forceful attitude. He made an appearance on NFL Network and said he viewed the Colts as having the NFL’s best defense. Maybe that sounded over the top, but the bigger point was that Hankins wanted the Colts defense to think more boldly, to command more respect.

During a recent conversation, Hankins also took exception when it was suggested he might not be as effective with the Colts as he was with the Giants, when Hankins played alongside two studs on the Giants’ defensive line: tackle Damon Harrison and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

“I don’t really listen to outside talk like that,” said Hankins during a break from OTAs. “I’m going to work hard. I’m going to lead. I’m really looking forward to building something special here.”

Whatever Hankins does will be noticed. When you are his size, with his talent, at just 25 years old, expectations are high.

The Colts need Hankins to be a run-stuffer on defense, and they would also like him to put occasional pressure on opposing quarterbacks. While Hankins had 43 tackles and three sacks with the Giants last season, racking up statistics was not his forte. Dominating the line of scrimmage is Hankins’ bread and butter, using his strength and athleticism to occupy multiple offensive lineman. Even when Hankins can’t make the tackle himself, his goal will be to create opportunities for other Colts defensive playmakers.

Nobody can blame new General Manager Chris Ballard for pursuing Hankins and taking a wrecking ball to the 2016 Colts defense. Last year they ranked 30th in total defense — 25th against the run and 27th against the pass. Pick any defensive scheme you wanted, the Colts played it poorly.

Ballard hopes Hankins will be a catalyst for a defensive transformation. Defensive tackle may not be a glamour position, but if Hankins is an immovable object in the middle, he will help set the tone for the entire defense, especially against the run.

“Everybody’s trying to find a guy that big who can do the things that he can,” said Urban Meyer, coach at Ohio State, where Hankins became a star. “Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, a lot of great defensive coaches love a defensive tackle like Jonathan. He’s a true gap defender. With him, you can move on to the next issue. He’s not going to get knocked out of there with his size and technique.

“Nowadays a lot of NFL teams also have questions about a guy’s character — what kind of kid will he be? Is he going to represent the organization the right way? That’s the No.1 thing they want to know. Johnathan’s character is off the charts, an awesome kid from an awesome family. And the bonus is that he’s a hell of player.”

Hankins has a history of exceeding expectations. He wasn’t even the most heavily recruited player on his high school team. That honor went to William Gholston, now a starting defensive end with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went to Michigan State.

Hankins wanted to stay near home as well, and his first choice was the University of Michigan. However, Hankins said the Wolverines were not interested until it was too late. He was sold on going to Ohio State after meeting with former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel.

“Coach Tressel is a calm, laid-back dude,’’ said Hankins. “We clicked.”

Tressel said they clicked because Hankins was low maintenance.

“He didn’t talk about how much playing time he would be guaranteed, how many snaps would he play, none of that,” said Tressel, now president of Youngstown State University. “I think he’ll fit in great with the Colts. He won’t say much, won’t make a big deal out of himself. But he’ll play hard every snap.

“He’s a big guy, but make no mistake, he’s an athlete. Those Colts linebackers will love him. He’ll free them to make plays, but he’ll also pursue. He makes guys around him play harder, because they don’t want to look bad, seeing that big guy moving faster than they are in practice.”

During high school practice, English would often pit Gholston and Hankins against each other in drills. English wanted to challenge them, knowing he had two players with NFL potential. He told schools that came to see Gholston but overlooked Hankins that they were making a mistake.

“I don’t know what the deal was with Michigan State, but we told them how good Big Hank was,” said English. “In fact, Gholston and Hank were talking at one time about going someplace together. But once Michigan State got Gholston, they dragged their feet on Big Hank. When he signed with Ohio State we told Michigan State, ‘He’s going to terrorize you for the next three or four years. That’s exactly what he did.’"

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Hankins had an outstanding season for Ohio State as a junior and decided to enter the 2013 draft. Meyer had only been at Ohio State for one year, taking over from Tressel. Watching Hankins walk out the door was tough, but Hankins was ready for the NFL and Meyer knew it.

“I wish I could’ve had him for more than one year,’’ Meyer said. “But we didn’t really try to talk him into staying.”

Hankins expected to be a first-round pick in 2013, but when his family gathered with excitement on the first night of the draft, Hankins’ phone never rang. First Hankins was deflated. Then he was motivated when the Giants took him in the second round with the 49th pick. For the Giants, getting Hankins at No. 49 proved to be a steal.

“My expectation was that I would go in the first round,” said Hankins. “But I felt lucky to get a call the very next day from the Giants. It was still exciting. Everything you dreamed of, everything you worked for, was still right in front of you.”

That still holds true for Hankins. Asked his greatest NFL disappointment, Hankins didn’t mention being snubbed in the first round of the draft or having never been named to a Pro Bowl. He talked about the emptiness he felt in January, when the Giants lost to the Packers 38-13 in the opening round of the playoffs. Hankins thought the Giants had a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl, and that was his first taste of the playoffs. The Colts have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, and Hankins said that needed to change.

“Losing in the playoffs was depressing,” said Hankins. “I’m coming here to help the Colts get back there, and go further.”

Does Hankins still think he could help the Colts as a running back?

“Sure,” said Hankins, laughing. “But my coaches keep crushing those dreams.”

Meyer offered a retort.

“Yeah, I remember hearing him say he could play running back,” Meyer said. “I don’t buy it. God made Hankins a tackle. And a darn good one.”

Follow IndyStar reporter Clifton Brown on Twitter: @CliftonGBrown.