Stock continues to soar for Peabody LB Jaylen Coleman
by Wade Perry
Posted May 5, 2011 1:46 am
Photo courtesy of 247sports.com
The state of Pennsylvania is well-known around the country for its top notch football talent.
Many of the players who recently impressed reporters and onlookers at the Penn State Nike Camp happen to hail from the Keystone state.
Who’s the latest class of 2012 prospect that came away from the camp with plenty of buzz surrounding him?
That would be none other than Peabody’s tenacious and battle-tested linebacker Jaylen Coleman (pictured above–right).
His impressive showing at the camp got him tagged as the 2nd ranked overall linebacker.
Not only that, his performance garned him a new scholarship offer.
Who’s the latest school to join the mix for Coleman’s services?
The Syracuse Orange extended a scholarship offer to the gifted two-way player earlier today at around 5 p.m.
Unlike most of the other schools that have offered the 6’0″, 230 pounder, the ‘Cuse offered him as a running back.
If you check out his highlight tape–it’s easy to see why they offered him at the running back position.
Blessed with excellent footwork at 6’0″, 225 lbs., Coleman catches a screen pass and shakes four defenders in the open field before blazing down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown catch.
An offer from two more schools is not far behind.
A member of the WVU coaching staff is coming up to watch Coleman in person in less than two weeks.
Purdue came up on Tuesday to see Coleman in person and they’re waiting on some film of him running drills before they officially decide to offer.
FinestPreps.com caught up with the gifted linebacker to talk about the new offer and his college football recruitment process, among other topics.
Below is the interview.
FinestPreps.com: Talk about what you think about the offer from Syracuse University, Jaylen.
Jaylen Coleman: “It was good. It was kind of surprising for what they offered me as. They offered me for running back. They have me at running back but they said I could choose what I want to play (running back or linebacker) so I dunno. They want me for running back but I might end up choosing linebacker if they let me choose.”
FinestPreps.com: Have any other teams said they were close to offering?
Jaylen Coleman: “West Virginia–they’re gonna come up to see me train so I can get an official.”
FinestPreps.com: You nervous? Excited about it?
Jaylen Coleman: “Yessir. I’m just ready to go show them they should’ve offered me already.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk to me about your experience at the Penn State Nike Camp. I heard you did really well. Talk about that.
Jaylen Coleman: “Yeah at Penn State–I had a blast up there. I’m one of the best linebackers in high school right now because that’s one of the best camps that I’ve been to and I swear I was just competiting. I was competing and I was just trying to show the reporters and stuff that some of the four stars and five stars are overrated, that I can hold my own for a city-league player, and that I’m one of the best linebackers in the nation.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk about your performance at that camp and how much confidence that gives you going into other camps and just headed into next season.
Jaylen Coleman: “It shows that I was competiting at a high level. The running backs they had there–I was just tossin’ em. I was just tossing them around. Like one-on-ones–defense against running backs–I was stride for stride with them all the time, I was jamming the tight ends pretty good. I was doing my thing. I was trying to prove myself to the reporters that I’m one of the best–that I’m one of the best players in the country.”
FinestPreps.com: Jaylen, what linebacker were you the most impressed with when you were there?
Jaylen Coleman: “Me and Dakota (Conwell).”
FinestPreps.com: What’s next for you as far as the camp circuit is concerned?
Jaylen Coleman: “I don’t really know right now. As of right now I’m gonna train real hard and do schoolwork. I go down to Florida June 23rd (IMG Academies 7-on-7 tournament).
FinestPreps.com: What about favorites for you since the last time I talked to you, Jaylen? Do you have any favorites at this point?
Jaylen Coleman: “My top two are not going to change right now. It’s gonna be Pitt, then Wisconsin, then Toledo. Toledo–I like them, too. My top two are Pitt and Wisconsin.”
FinestPreps.com: So what schools have currently offered scholarships?
Jaylen Coleman: “Pitt, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse–that’s it right now. Purdue said they’re gonna offer me–their coaches want to.”
Keep it locked to FinestPreps.com for more updates about the fleet footed running back’s recruitment process!
Wade Peery is the senior writer for FinestPreps.com. He can be reached by e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com.
Check out the highlights of the talented two-way athlete below!