Ahead of NBC's 2026 American Century Championship, I got the chance to speak with one of the 85+ golfers who will participate in the annual celebrity golf tournament on the shores of Lake Tahoe, Indianapolis Colts legend Dwight Freeney. Among the field will be Charles Barkley, Steph Curry, Jake Owen, and Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike Macdonald. The event takes place from July 10-12 at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada.
Besides talking about how Performance Golf's PG1 app is improving his swing, Freeney opened up about some of the Colts' recent draft picks. I asked him specifically about two SEC products on the defensive side of the ball, Freeney's wheelhouse: former Georgia Bulldogs middle linebacker CJ Allen and former Florida Gators EDGE George Gumbs Jr.
Dwight Freeney on CJ Allen
Freeney was clearly hung up on Indy's disappointing defensive performance during the 2025 season after quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending Achilles tear. Freeney believes the second-round pick, Allen (No. 53 overall), is a step in the right direction for a defense that allowed 24.2 points per game and 4,215 net passing yards throughout the season.
"You know what? I think defense was one of the issues that we had last year, and it was a lot. It was disappointing, to be quite honest with you. I thought the defense should have stepped up and been the strong point of the team once Daniel Jones went down, but it wasn't. So I think having any additions on defense is going to help. I think we have some good additions, and I think, you know, he's a good addition. You know, he's a guy who can run," Freeney said of Allen.
Allen ran an impressive 4.47-second 40-yard dash in a private workout during the pre-draft process and was clocked at over 19 mph on GPS tracking during live gameplay while on the Dawgs. Allen can run, alright.
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Dwight Freeney on George Gumbs Jr.
Gumbs is an interesting case because he started his career with the Northern Illinois Huskies as a receiver and a tight end before switching to the defensive end position. I asked Freeney about what his career arc might look like at the next level, having only recently switched to the defensive side of the ball. Freeney, of course, is one of the greatest edge-rushers to ever lace up a pair of cleats.
"He can move. And that's what we need. We need some speed on defense, and I think we have that. You know, I think with him, you put him down, third-down situations, and be able to chase down a quarterback or two. Now, that being said, you have to work on the development. You have to work on his moves, and the selection of moves, and how he wants to do it, and I think that's all gonna be something that he'll grow into. But I think he has a lot of the intangibles, things that you can't teach, things that are just ability-wise, just having to be fast and bend. Those are things that, you know, I don't care how great a coach you are. You can't teach a guy to be faster or quicker. You are what you are. So I think that's gonna be good for them," Freeney told me.
Gumbs' seven-second time in the three-cone drill ranked in the 84th percentile at the NFL Combine, proving he is exceptional at bending around tackles. Gumbs also had a 4.66-second 40-yard dash and 41-inch vertical jump.
Overall, Freeney's optimism is backed by measurements. We'll see if it's also backed by development and performance, for which the responsibility falls on the Colts' coaching staff.
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