When Caden Curry chose Ohio State over a host of blue-blood programs, the expectation was that he would become one of the Big Ten's most feared pass-rushers. What no one could have scripted, though, was how perfectly his story would end — with a trip home to the city where his high school career reached its greatest heights.
The Indianapolis Colts made it official on Thursday, announcing the signing of six NFL Draft picks ahead of rookie minicamp, including Curry, who was selected by his home-state team in the sixth round (No. 214 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end inked a rookie deal, expected to be worth nearly $4.6 million, with a signing bonus of over $200,000.
For Curry, the moment carried extra weight. He grew up in Greenwood, Indiana, and spent his high school years winning state championships at Center Grove before moving to Columbus. Lucas Oil Stadium — the same venue where he played during those title runs — is now his professional home.
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The path to the NFL began at Center Grove High School, where Curry was nothing short of dominant. He amassed 290 tackles, 83.5 tackles for loss, and 28 sacks over his high school career, helping lead the Trojans to back-to-back Class 6A state championships. As a senior, Curry was a finalist for Indiana's Mr. Football and earned the position's top honor from the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
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Rated a four-star prospect and ranked the No. 13 edge rusher in the 2022 class, according to the 247Sports rankings, Curry chose Ohio State over a list of finalists that included Alabama, Clemson, Oregon and in-state Indiana, drawn by the chance to develop under legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson in one of college football's premier programs.
What followed in Columbus was an exercise in patience — and ultimately, a breakout. Curry played a depth role in his first two seasons, learning the defense and honing his craft behind more experienced veterans. By his junior year, he had earned his place in the defensive end rotation, but it was his senior campaign that announced him to the rest of the country. In 2025, Curry started all 14 games, leading the Buckeyes in both sacks (11.0) and tackles for loss (16.5) and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
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Over his Scarlet and Gray career, Curry finished with 111 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was also a member of Ohio State's 2024 national championship team.
With his name now on a contract, Curry can focus his full attention on proving his worth at the NFL level, in the same city where his football journey first took flight.