Colts move up in draft, take Villanova's Ijalana in 2nd round

Villanova coach Andy Talley acknowledges being disappointed when the first round of the NFL draft passed into history Thursday night without the name of the Wildcats' All-America left tackle, Ben Ijalana, being called.

Disappointment turned to jubilation, however, when Talley learned that the 6-4, 320-pound Ijalana had been selected 49th overall, by Indianapolis. The Colts moved up four spots in the second round, in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

"I was sort of surprised Ben wasn't taken in the first round," Talley said last night. "I think he's a first-round talent. Most of the NFL line coaches that were in [to scout Ijalana] indicated to us that he would be a first-rounder, so I was sort of surprised that he went as late as he did.

"If he didn't come from a I-AA school, he probably would have been a surefire first-rounder. I guess [some NFL executives] wondered how he would have done blocking guys from Alabama, Penn State and Michigan. But, believe me, he's the real deal."

While Ijalana played left tackle for the Wildcats, the Colts drafted him as a guard.

He said that, the reinstated NFL lockout notwithstanding, he's eager to begin preparing for the 2011 season as soon as possible.

"When you get drafted, you're, like, 'Oh, I made it,' " he said. "Then you realize it just means it's time to get back to work. Time stops for no one. I'm honored the Colts moved up to take me, but I know I have some work to do."

As for blocking for the Colts' future Hall of Fame quarterback, Peyton Manning, Ijalana said: "I think he's amazing . . . a legend. He's very passionate about what he does, and he's shown he can put his team on his back and carry it. I don't want to let him down."

Talley said that if Ijalana was going to wind up being picked in Round 2, he couldn't have asked for a better fit than with the Colts and Manning.

"It's pretty awesome. Holy mackerel," Talley said. "To wind up with a Super Bowl contender, blocking for one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game? What can I say? Wow. I don't think Ben could ask for anything more."