Keon Coleman has become a polarizing prospect in a deep 2024 NFL Draft wide receiver class.
Coleman, who began his career at Michigan State, transferred to Florida State ahead of his junior season. He combined forces with another top receiver prospect in Johnny Wilson and quarterback Jordan Travis to help the Seminoles win the ACC Championship and finish a perfect regular season. Coleman and company were snubbed of a playoff spot following a devastating injury to Travis near the end of the season.
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Coleman has been mocked anywhere from a first round pick to a third round pick, depending on which mock you look at. Either way, he is a player who scouts expect to make an impact at the next level with his size and speed. Coleman also brings a unique background of playing basketball for one season with the Spartans.
Here's why Coleman transferred from Michigan State to Florida State, including a scouting report, draft combine results and his recruitment from high school:
Why did Keon Coleman transfer to Florida State?
Coleman formed a strong tandem with Jayden Reed in his sophom*ore season with the Spartans. Following the 2022 season, Reed declared for the NFL Draft and was picked in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. Coleman was ranked as the No. 23 overall transfer and No. 4 wide receiver in the spring transfer portal and picked FSU over finalists Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Coleman pointed to Travis, Wilson, Jared Verse and Trey Benson — among others — on the FSU roster, which set it up for a potential run for the College Football Playoffs.
“Just the culture that they’ve been building over the past few years,” Coleman said to Tallahassee media about his decision to join the Seminoles. “Out of high school, they were recruiting me pretty hard. They have a great quarterback, great receiver room and most of all I love the coaching staff. They got 90% of the team coming back this year so we have a chance to do something very special and I just wanted to be a part of that.”
Coleman caught the attention of FSU basketball coach Leonard Hamilton during fall practices before making a loud debut for the Seminoles, catching nine passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-24 victory over LSU to open the 2023 season.
Keon Coleman high school
Coleman played in five games his senior season at Opelousas Catholic School in Opelousas, Louisiana. He racked up 28 catches for 600 yards and eight touchdowns, earning honorable mention all-state honors.As a junior, he finished with 35 receptions for 1,143 yards and 22 touchdowns, added a couple of rushing touchdowns, and finished with seven interceptions on defense, earning him first-team all-state honors.
Keon Coleman recruit ranking
The two-sport athlete was rated as a four-star prospect. According to 247Sports Composite, he was the No. 377 overall recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, the No. 61 receiver, and the No. 12 player in the state. Coleman committed to MSU over offers from other programs, including the in-state Tulane for an opportunity to play football and basketball in college.
Coleman held a basketball scholarship from Virginia Tech. As a senior, he averaged more than 30 points a game, scoring a career-high 63 points. He also averaged 26 points per game as a junior and 23.1 as a sophom*ore.
Keon Coleman college basketball career
As a freshman, Coleman appeared in six games and played 10 minutes. He went 2-for-5 from the field and made one of his two 3-point attempts. He added three steals, three turnovers, and a rebound in his limited action for Tom Izzo.
Coleman battled a partial muscle tear near his hip flexor toward the end of his sophom*ore season in football. That forced him to give up the possibility to play as a reserve walk-on for Izzo's squad to focus on getting ready for his junior football season.
“Getting my body right after being banged up for a majority of the season,” Coleman said in an interview in March 2023. “So just making sure I was healthy coming into spring. So that's pretty much it. ... At the end of the day, your body is your business. That's where your money comes from.”
Keon Coleman combine results, measurables
- Height: 6-foot-3 ¼ inches
- Weight: 213 pounds
- Hand size: 9 ⅜ inches
- Arm span: 31 ⅛ inches
- Wing span: 78 ⅛ inches
- 40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds (1.54 10-yard split)
- Bench press (225 pounds): Did not participate
- Vertical jump: 38 inches
- Broad jump: 10-feet-7 inches
- 3-cone drill: Did not participate
- Shuttle run: Did not participate
Keon Coleman stats
Here is a year-by-year look at Coleman's stats at Michigan State and with FSU.
- Career: 115 receptions for 1,506 yards (13.10 yards per catch) and 19 touchdowns; 25 punt returns for 300 yards
- 2021: 7 receptions for 50 yards (7.1 average) and one touchdown
- 2022: 58 receptions for 798 yards (13.8 average) and seven touchdowns
- 2023 (Florida State): 50 receptions for 658 yards (13.2 average) and 11 touchdowns; 25 returns for 300 yards
Keon Coleman scouting report
NFL.com gives Coleman a 6.25 prospect grade, which means he will eventually become an average starter. Draft analyst Lance Zierlein gives him an NFL comparable to the Atlanta Falcons' Drake London. Here's what NFL.com says about his scouting report.
"Above-the-rim artist with circus catches resembling a scene from the tents of Cirque du Soleil. Coleman has excellent size and ball skills. He’s not sudden and doesn’t have great speed, so beating press and creating breathing room against tight man coverages will depend on his ability to improve as a route-runner. The former star basketball player has a rebounder’s blend of extension and timing to give jump-ball defenders the blues. He’s big and strong with soft hands, but he can play with a little more aggression in claiming his deep-ball space and getting after it as a run blocker. Coleman might lack the athletic traits to be a well-rounded WR2. Instead, keep an eye on him as a big slot receiver who can be a red-zone specialist."
