The end of senior year can often mean the end of the road for a college athlete. But for at least one Penn football player, the final whistle will have to wait.
On Sunday, Penn football announced that senior defensive back Shiloh Means had earned an invite to the Indianapolis Colts minicamp, providing him a chance to prove himself at the professional level. The invite comes after the conclusion of the NFL Draft, which did not see any Quakers selected.
Means, an Indianapolis native and two-time All-Ivy first team selection, made a significant impact during his time with the Red and Blue. Means served as one of Penn’s captains in 2024, starting all 10 games at safety. His three interceptions were good for second in the Ivy League, while his 11 pass breakups ranked third in the conference.
In 2023, Means also racked up three interceptions while recording 44 total tackles and a forced fumble.
“He’s the quarterback of this defense,” defensive coordinator Bob Benson said of Means last season. “He watches hours of film, and he takes the best notes I’ve ever seen in my career. His notebook is remarkably detailed.”
“I’m doing a lot of extra things outside practice, just to make sure that I can step up to the challenge of being a captain and that I’m not getting complacent,” Means said of his preparation.
Means is one of several Penn players to receive NFL looks in recent years. Last season, former Quaker wide receiver Rory Starkey Jr. was signed to the Green Bay Packers 90-man roster after going undrafted, but did not make the final team.
Current Penn players in the NFL include Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson, who has won three Super Bowl titles in six seasons, and New York Giants guard Greg Van Roten, a league veteran who began his career with the Packers in 2012.
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