|
Valentino Coleman |
Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: College of San Mateo (Calif.) Projection: Third-String Status: On Scholarship |
Valentino "Tino" Coleman was a seriously late addition to the 2013 class who somehow made it past Signing Day without any major college offers. So when Coach Mike Cox swooped in for the kill, Coleman was a fast taker.
Cox was familiar with Coleman from when he tried to recruit him to Washington. Coleman was a JUCO teammate of fellow 2013 commitment Nate Jackson. Coleman had 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2012.
"He's a high-motor guy," Coleman's JUCO coach said about him in a recent GoPowercat.com article. "He's intense and tough. He'll battle. Just one of those guys who's active all over the field."
Coleman is a true junior with three years to play two seasons. Although he had no other official offers, Miami apparently was very interested in him.
"He's just a late graduate," his coach said of how the 2012 first-team NorCal player slipped through the signing period. "I'm not sure people didn't want him or there's any reason behind it. They just got in on him late."
Although I project Coleman as a third-string defensive tackle, due to his not arriving until later this month, it sounds as if he can play multiple positions along the defensive front.
"We played him all over," Coleman's coach said. "Defensive tackle, outside end, three-tech. I know K-State wants him inside, but they'll be able to use him wherever."