Marvin taught Reggie. Reggie taught T.Y, and now, T.Y. is ready to graduate to the role of mentor. Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton reported back for duty with the rest of his teammates Monday for the start of phase I of the offseason program, the first day he’s walked into the locker room and didn’t see “#87 Wayne” above two of those lockers in the far right corner. For Hilton, that empty space means it’s now his turn to be the leader.

“It’s very different. It still hurts me right now. I was still waiting for him to just walk in the meeting room,” Hilton told Colts.com Monday. “It’s different. It’s going to take me some time to get used to it, but I don’t think I will.”

That’s because Wayne may not be in the locker room anymore, but he’s still on Hilton’s speed dial.

“I keep in contact with him. We still talk. We talked yesterday,” said Hilton. “For me, just keep that relationship going and just continue to dominate on the field.”

via Steve Andress of colts.com