5 Indianapolis Colts Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015

Looking ahead to the 2015 Indianapolis Colts, there are a few things that we know.

We know Andrew Luck is going to be good. We know T.Y. Hilton will show up. We know Vontae Davis is a key piece of the defense.

There's no debate about these kind of things. But the Colts will get significant contributions from others in 2015, and that other part is still a bit murky at this point. The Colts have some key contributors that they can count on every season, but the question is who will step up? Who will step into bigger roles and flourish?

Today we look at five Indianapolis Colts players that have a chance to step up and make a name for themselves in 2015.

OG Jack Mewhort

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

If you don't live in Indianapolis or Ohio, you probably won't recognize the name Jack Mewhort.

The former Ohio State product came into Indianapolis last season and was thrust in to a starting role as a rookie, a role that he filled without fanfare for the entire season. Mewhort didn't grab attention last year, whether it was for good or bad reasons, and he's slid under the radar. But in 2015, Mewhort has a good chance of grabbing more attention with a breakout sophomore campaign. 

As a rookie, Mewhort surpassed most expectations simply from being average: Mewhort finished the regular season with a positive 0.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. While not as athletic as 2013 third-round pick Hugh Thornton, Mewhort's awareness and quick grasp of the playbook led to early success. 

Mewhort also developed remarkable chemistry with left tackle Anthony Castonzo, something that aided in Castonzo breaking out and being named to Pro Football Focus' Top 100 list. In addition, Mewhort can potentially move to right tackle, which may become a reality this season with Gosder Cherilus recovering from surgery.

Ben Gundy of Colts Academy breaks it down well:

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Mewhort has the look of a good right tackle, though he’ll probably never be a great one because of his relative lack of athleticism. Still, he’s smart enough to learn to work within his skills. For example, he was atrocious when pulling in the preseason and the early part of the regular season, but he visibly improved later in the year, missing just one of his 18 lead blocks in the final seven games after missing four of 15 in the first four weeks.

That ability to adapt should serve him well wherever he ends up. If the Colts find another long-term solution at right tackle and Mewhort sticks at guard, he should be an excellent starter for years to come.

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Now, Mewhort did hit a bit of a rookie wall last season, and he was much less effective down the stretch and in the playoffs. But with a year of experience and another offseason to prepare, I expect Mewhort to put together a full year of strong play in 2015, including helping the Colts revamp a struggling run game.

DL Henry Anderson

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Looking at the Colts' defensive line grouping, it's easy to say that he faces a difficult road toward making an impact as a rookie.

The team has five players coming back from last season, including starters Arthur Jones and Josh Chapman. Then there is defensive end Kendall Langford, who the Colts handed a $17 million contract this offseason. Throw in fellow Stanford prospect David Parry and you have at least eight players with significant chances at contributing roles.

Fortunately for Anderson, the team is lacking penetrating, playmaking linemen, employing a wide range of stout, two-gapping run-stuffers instead. Anderson, who was one of Pro Football Focus' most productive interior linemen against both the pass and run last year, should be able to stand out quickly.

The Colts' only true 5-technique defensive linemen are Langford and Anderson, and while Langford was just signed in free agency, the contract contained only $2.5 million in guaranteed money. Langford may be penciled in as the starter right now, but he's had his chance in both Miami and St. Louis already and was not particularly effective in either place.

It won't take long for Anderson to get snaps on a rotational basis on passing downs, and a starting role is definitely in the cards.

WR Phillip Dorsett

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

While most first-rounders wouldn't necessarily be surprise contributors in their rookie season, Phillip Dorsett is a bit of a special case.

Wide receiver wasn't a priority for Indianapolis heading into the NFL draft, having already signed Andre Johnson in free agency and Duron Carter, son of NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter, out of Canada. With 2014 Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton and promising second-year player Donte Moncrief returning, it already was a promising group.

But the Colts shocked everybody by selecting Dorsett in Round 1, although most still wouldn't expect much out of him during his rookie year.

The Colts will employ a fairly steady rotation at receiver in 2015, moving receivers in and out of different alignments on any given play, and it's difficult to envision a rookie gaining enough snaps to really post the type of bulk numbers that would garner attention.

But the beauty of Dorsett is that he doesn't need bulk snaps to make an impact. Not only will he likely contribute on special teams, Dorsett also is a game-breaking type of receiver that could score on any given play. With so much attention on those around him, Dorsett will be a deep-ball threat every time he hits the field, which still could be up to 600 snaps-worth (which is about the number that Hakeem Nicks hit as the third receiver last year).

So far, Dorsett is mixing in very well in Indianapolis, standing out in the team's OTAs this week.

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Phillip Dorsett is having a day. Have I mentioned he's fast? #Colts

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) May 20, 2015"

The Colts needed somebody else to step up big in high-profile games against New England last year, and they didn't get it. While he likely won't be giving you consistently big weeks, Dorsett has a very good chance to have a few stellar games with big production that will force people to cast a second look.

OLB Jonathan Newsome

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Though the Colts signed Eagles outside linebacker Trent Cole in free agency and have All-Pro Robert Mathis returning, it's former Ball State pass-rusher Jonathan Newsome that should have most fans excited for 2015 and beyond.

With Cole and Erik Walden slated to start (Mathis will likely still be working back from his injury to start the season), Newsome projects as the first edge player off the bench, having worked extensively as a rotational pass-rusher last season. Former first-round pick Bjoern Werner was the starter for most of last year with Mathis out, but Newsome gradually surpassed Werner last year, especially rushing the passer.

In 2015, Newsome should play mostly as a rush linebacker, rotating with Cole and occasionally joining him as the Colts get as many playmakers on the field as they can. He played both sides in 2014, but a wealth of bodies should keep the Colts from forcing him into a strong-side role in 2015.

While the Colts' outside linebacker group could get crowded, especially if Mathis gets healthy and the team continues to try to develop Werner, Newsome represents the best chance at a long-term piece on a good defense. The team can't afford to bury him on the depth chart, and he has a good chance to continue to stand out in a more refined role in 2015.

TE Dwayne Allen

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In all honesty, Dwayne Allen's breakout season came as a rookie, when he was Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded tight end. But after missing all of 2013 and being bogged down by injuries in the second half of last season, Allen now must try to prove that rookie year was not an outlier.

Health is the only thing that stands in his way.

Allen looked stellar in the first half of last season, racking up a positive 9.9 grade in the first nine games of the season and catching seven touchdowns. Allen was finding his niche again as a stellar blocker and savvy receiver, especially in the red zone. But after injuring his ankle in the Colts' 10th game, a loss to New England, Allen caught just three passes for the rest of the regular season.

Now, Allen did catch 11 passes in the playoffs, one for a touchdown, but he averaged just 8.2 yards per reception after averaging over 14 in the first nine games.

This offseason, Allen has worked to make sure his body is completely healthy and ready for a full campaign in 2015, per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.

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I felt 70 percent for the better part of (2014). Having an offseason to really train like the offseason I had my rookie year or the offseason I had going into the second year, before I was injured, was my main focus. I’m glad I was able to get away and get that taken care of. It’s a long season especially whenever you play into late January. My biggest focus this offseason was to get my body into a position where I can go out and have the best season for this team.

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Allen worked at Exos training facility in Arizona to make sure his lower body was completely healed, not only from knee and ankle injuries from last year, but from the hip injury that stole his second season and indirectly led to his breaking down last season.

With the Colts adding more receiving weapons this year, Allen could leapfrog Coby Fleener in snaps, as he provides a much more effective blocking element. Look for him to earn himself a big contract next offseason if he can stay on the field in 2015.