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Prospect of the Day: Tevin Coleman

Take a look at Tevin Coleman's football career at Indiana.

Indiana RB Tevin Coleman
5'11", 206 lb.
Junior

Bio
Rated the No. 12 prospect in Illinois out of HS by Rivals.com
Rated the No. 37 RB in the nation out of HS by Rivals.com
1st team All-State (Illinois)
Ran for 949 yards on 83 carries, 16 rec. for 345 yards - 18 total TD
Finished second at state meet in the long jump (23 ¼")
Finished fourth in the 100 meter dash (10.86 secs)

Honors
5th in the nation in yards per carry (7.54 ypc on 270 carries)
Unanimous/Consensus 1st team All-America (2014)
Third Hoosier RB all-time to be All-America
Seventh in the Heisman Voting (2014)
1st Team All-B1G (2014)
18th player in FBS history to rush for over 2,000 yards
Doak Walker Award Finalist (2014)
Team Captain (2014)
Led the nation in 30 , 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80 and 90 yard runs - had 34 of these in total!
Averaged 7.1 yards per carry FOR HIS CAREER

Combine/Pro Day Measurements
Arms: 32"
Hand: 8 ⅝"
40-yd dash: 4.39 secs (Pro Day)
**Didn't work out at the Combine because of an injury - worked out 4/15/15 at his Pro Day

Overall
During Tevin Coleman's three year career at Indiana, the Hoosiers didn't make one bowl game. The Hoosier Program didn't have a season above .500. Indiana was lucky to be on national television throughout his career, even though it existed on the B1G Network and ESPN 2 for the most part.

Yet, Coleman had such an incredible junior season that everyone paid attention to his exploits. He was the 18th player in the history of the game to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season and he only played 12 games. He helped make it the year of the running back in the B1G and even if, he was overshadowed by Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and a few others. But, the dynamic youngster from Illinois may have the best highlight reel of any running back in this draft. Every single time he touched the rock, he was a threat to make a house call.

An injury set him back a bit in the postseason and it kept him from working out at the Combine. But, when he had to answer the workout bell, so to speak, on Tax Day, he ran a 4.38 and more than likely solidified his spot early in day two. Can he do more than just hit home runs or can he be a complete five tool player? It's a baseball analogy but hopefully you get the point.

Texans analyst and radio sideline reporter John Harris unveiled his top 100 prospects for the NFL Draft. (Photos courtesy of AP)

Quote
"Coleman is a little like Darren McFadden from the Oakland Raiders. Upright, explosive kid. He gets a gash and he can take it to the house. He's a difference maker. He's a home run hitter." - Mike Mayock, NFL Network Draft Analyst

What to like
--The Juice - he's got the ability to take every single run to the end zone.
--When he plants foot in the ground and turns upfield, look out - as explosive with that first step as any back in this draft.
--Decent hands out of the backfield
--Will run the ball inside, not a bounce runner, even though he can get the edge in a snap.
--Defenses have to be run fit perfect or he's gone - v. Iowa, v. Ohio State - both defenses were containing him well, then one linebacker was out of place each time and Coleman took it 84 and 90 respectively.
--Oh and by the way, that 90 yard run v. Ohio State he ran away from, sprinted away from, a DB that ran an official 4.4 at the Combine and had an angle on him in pursuit.
--Wasn't asked to pass protect a ton but he's physical and attacks linebackers - doesn't cower or shy from striking.
--In fact, he's above average to very good finding leakage and keeping the backfield clean, even against linemen.
--Good zone scheme vision - finds cutup lanes quickly and back over the center

What needs some work
--Doesn't and won't break tackles - first guy typically can take him down with good form tackle
--Not much shake/wiggle - moves are subtle, almost too subtle.
--Takes a ton of direct shots as he goes through the line - doesn't slip tackles or avoid them unless he's running past guys (which he does often)
--Fumbled four times in 2014, losing three
--When running through trash, expecting contact, he sometimes lowers his head and loses vision, runs into defenders when he has the speed/quickness to not.

Projection
This is one of the deepest running back classes we've ever seen in an NFL Draft and Coleman sort of epitomizes the width, depth and breadth of this group. In short, he is more explosive and dangerous with the potential to take every run the distance, in addition to being a more than capable receiver out of the backfield. He had 25 receptions which was second on the team in 2014. Combine the two skills and he's a ready made, true next level threat.

But, the questions linger. Can he stay healthy? Can he be wholly effective pounding out 20-25 carries in between the tackles late in a season? Will his career arc follow that of McFadden - glimpses of brilliance wrapped around nagging injury after nagging injury? Or can he be reliable such that he gets 15 touches a game for most of his career? No one has the answers to those questions but I'll put it this way, if Coleman is a hit, he won't just be a solid player, he'll be a supernova exploding across the NFL sky as one of the most dangerous and electric threats in the game.

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