Indianapolis Colts select Temple CB Rock Ya-Sin with the 34th pick

Rock Ya-Sin is the latest rags to riches story to leave North Philadelphia for greener pastures in the NFL.

The star cornerback who transferred from Presbyterian College to the Temple Owls for one season was selected with the 34th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Ya-Sin has the physique that NFL teams covet at corner. At 6 feet, 192 pounds, he has the size and speed to match up against both bigger and smaller receivers. He is a physical player that will mix it up in both the passing and running game. He has excellent ball skills and hands to compete with the best the game has to offer.

The question mark surrounding Ya-Sin is whether he is ready to make the leap from FCS to FBS to NFL talent in just two seasons. He’ll be in a division that features one of the game’s best in Houston Texans’ wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but Indy didn’t use a high pick for him to not play immediately.

Ya-Sin was the third cornerback to be taken in the draft. The only corners to be selected ahead of the new Colts defensive back were Deandre Baker, who went No. 30 to Giants, and Byron Murphy, who was selected one pick ahead of Ya-Sin at No. 33 to start the second round.

Ya-Sin is the second Temple cornerback on the roster, joining Nate Hairston in the defensive backfield. The Colts used a fifth-round choice on Hairston in 2017, who has played in 27 games, including 11 starts, the last two seasons.