NICK COLEMAN
Dayton, OH
Measurables: 6-0, 170
Accolades: First-team All-Ohio Division IV All-State running back, first-team 2014 AP Southwest All-District, State runner up.
Impressive Offers: Michigan State, Pitt, Illinois, Boston College
Quick Take: One of the true “projection” recruits in the class. Coleman did his dirty work as a running back -- a good one -- at Malik Zaire’s alma mater. But Notre Dame likes him as a physical, competitive cornerback, and jumped on him early.
An instinctive football player that the Irish staff has seen a lot of, there are higher ranked recruits, but Coleman is a heckuva football player.
What he means to the Irish: As a cornerback, he’s a physical, aggressive athlete that’ll fit with the man scheme types that Brian VanGorder is looking for. He also might be the perfect utility player, capable of flipping to the offensive side of the ball if the depth chart at running back continues to be thin.
The 2014 depth chart in the secondary doesn’t seem like the easiest one to break into, especially assuming KeiVarae Russell is back at cornerback. But Coleman also looks like the type of player who could show some utility on coverage teams, if the special teams needs an infusion.
Obligatory YouTube clip: Here’s a senior highlight reel of Coleman (mostly at running back) via Hudl.
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