Did Keon Coleman hurt his NFL Draft stock at the Scouting Combine?
On a recent episode of the Andy Staples On3 Podcast, the college football expert had an extended chat with the director of the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy. Nagy stopped by to discuss what he saw from several of the players who competed recently in Mobile at the 2024 NFL Combine. One of the players the duo discussed was former Florida State star wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman is a proven threat at wide receiver and would be a welcomed addition to any team. However, his 40-yard time became a question of concern for some, at least so it seemed. According to Nagy, most teams were aware of the possibility he could have a slower 40 time, which is why Nagy wanted him at the Senior Bowl.
“Well, I would say when it comes to Keon, most scouts knew that he wasn’t gonna run a great time. And when I called his agent to talk about getting him here to Mobile, Alabama, that was the pitch,” Nagy said. “[It] was like, I don’t think he’s going to run fast, [but] he’s a really good football player. So have him come here to Mobile and lean into the strengths. Have him come here and interview and do what he does on the field and that’s get open and make plays.”
The reaction around Coleman’s Columbine performance was a bit of a mixed bag primarily because of his 40-yard dash time. However, rightly enough, he clocked one of the fastest speeds during the gauntlet drill, clocking in at just over 20 mph.
On top of that, there is a lot that can be said about Coleman’s game. At Florida State, he lined up all over the field, both in the slot and outside the numbers. But he also returned punts for the Seminoles, showcasing his all-around playmaking ability. And if teams are on the fence about Coleman, given his slower 40-yard time, Nagy believes they should go back and watch the tape to remind themselves of how special he is on the field.
“It’s hard to find 6’3” playmakers, and he could do that. You don’t see many guys his size that can return punts. Most of those guys are 5-9, 5-10,” Nagy said. “He’s 6-3, returning punts for Florida State. So I don’t think it was a surprise. I don’t think the 4.62 was a surprise to teams.
“Now, what you’re going to want to do is probably just go back to the tape and say, ‘okay, is this showing up? Do we see a lack of juice that’s gonna limit him when he gets to the next level?’ Because the ball skills are all there. Some of the run after catch, the change of direction, the sneakiness with the ball in his hands; he has that… he’s another really good player in this draft.”
The 89th annual NFL draft is scheduled to kick off on Thursday night, April 25, 2024, and we’ll conclude on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Only time will tell where Coleman will land in the 2024 NFL Draft. But whoever selects him will be acquiring the services of a highly capable playmaker who has shown his versatility all over the field for the Florida State Seminoles. And those who don’t just might find themselves on the receiving end of another spectacular Coleman performance, such as the nine catches, 122 yards, and three receiving touchdowns show he had at the start of the 2023 college football season against the SEC’s LSU Tigers.