Where will the most prolific receiver in Baylor history land in the NFL Draft?
Corey Coleman has blazing speed and was a touchdown machine in his college career. He was the 2015 Biletnikoff Award winner (given to the nation's top receiver) and a unanimous All-America selection after hauling in 74 receptions for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. And he missed the Bears' bowl game with a sports hernia injury that required surgery in December.
Coleman finished his Baylor career with 173 catches, 3,009 receiving yards (17.4 yards per catch) and 33 touchdowns. He is the first Bears receiver to have multiple 1,000-yard campaigns. As a kick returner, Coleman averaged 26.0 yards per attempt on 25 opportunities, scoring one touchdown.
In Coleman's three seasons as a player with Baylor, the Bears were 32-7 and won two Big 12 conference titles.
Coleman was ultra-productive, but there are some questions about his transition to the pro game. He did respond following the sports hernia surgery to post a reported 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at Baylor's Pro Day. He doesn't have the prototypical height/weight for an outside receiver (5-11, 194 pounds), but Antonio Brown's dominance over the past three seasons will aid Coleman's quest to be the first receiver off the board. Lastly, Baylor's spread offense limited Coleman to only a handful of routes to run, so there will be a learning curve from that standpoint.
In addition to the numbers, there is another reason to cheer for Coleman. His father, Melvin, is in jail for drug distribution and he has had to rely on his mother, Cassandra, and godfather Ray Crockett, who is a former NFL defensive back.
Scouting Report From NFL.com
Dangerous vertical talent with the ability to get over the top of defenders who fail to recognize his blazing quickness off the line of scrimmage. Coleman can get instant separation to create favorable passing windows and is one of the top playmakers in this draft. Coleman's issues with drops near the middle of the field could be a concern if teams see him next as a slot receiver due to his lack of size. Regardless, he can line up outside and win and he offers immediate punt return help. - Lance Zierlein, who compared Coleman to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown
What He Said
"I really mirror my game after Antonio Brown and Steve Smith. Not the biggest receivers. Arguably Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the NFL – 5-10 – I love his suddenness. He has great burst and agility. Great route-runner, too. Then you got Steve Smith. He's fantastic attacking the ball at 5-9. You know, he has the mind-set of bigger receiver when he goes and gets the ball. I take pride in watching them on film." - Corey Coleman on the NFL receivers he emulates
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