What is Keon Colemans NFL Draft stock? Florida State WR comes up big at Clemson

Keon Coleman scored seven touchdowns during a breakout 2022 season at Michigan State. Now at Florida State after an offseason transfer, Coleman already has found the end zone six times this year, including twice Saturday in a dramatic 31-24 overtime victory at Clemson.

Keon Coleman scored seven touchdowns during a breakout 2022 season at Michigan State. Now at Florida State after an offseason transfer, Coleman already has found the end zone six times this year, including twice Saturday in a dramatic 31-24 overtime victory at Clemson.

His second TD of the game — a remarkable leaping grab over cornerback Jeadyn Lukus — held up as the game winner for the fourth-ranked Seminoles. Coleman finished the game with five receptions (on nine targets) for 86 yards.

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He entered the season ranked as a top-30 prospect and WR4 on Dane Brugler’s draft board.

Top-ranked 2024 WRs (Aug. 24 rankings)

PlayerSchoolHt, Wt

1. Marvin Harrison Jr.

6-4, 205

2. Malik Nabers

6-0, 200

3. Emeka Egbuka

6-1, 205

4. Keon Coleman

6-4, 215

5. Rome Odunze

6-3, 217

Since then, he’s only boosted his NFL Draft stock. How much did Saturday help? And what have we learned about Coleman’s game so far this season?

Instant reactions

The Keon Coleman we’re seeing at Florida State is the same Keon Coleman we saw at Michigan State last season, when he led the Spartans in receiving (58 catches for 798 yards and seven TDs). But with more consistent quarterback play and an offense that can sustain drives, Coleman is getting more of a chance to show off the rare talent he has as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound athlete.

It has been great to see him shine in two high-profile games on the young season (LSU and Clemson), performances that have put him on more radars around the country.

It’s also worth noting that Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, who ranked No. 12 on my preseason top 50, had a terrific day in coverage. When Coleman made a play, it was against one of Clemson’s other defensive backs. Wiggins exited the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. — Dane Brugler

13 plays in 6:23

Longest drive of the year in terms of plays & time.

Keon Coleman caps it off with a TD. #NoleFamily | #KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/9lU5CwzvQU

— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) September 23, 2023

Florida State has built its roster with plenty of transfer-portal talent, but the explosiveness of its offense feels dependent on whether QB Jordan Travis can find Coleman downfield.

During a game in which Clemson took away the Florida State run game by loading the box and blitzing, Coleman had to win his one-on-ones on the perimeter — with a lot of those routes coming against Wiggins, a potential first-round talent himself. It was a tough battle prior to Wiggins’ injury, but I liked how Coleman played against a defensive back with a similar physical profile.

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The go-ahead touchdown in overtime was an example of what makes Coleman special. Even against physical coverage, he has the ball tracking and athletic ability to win over the top. It’s becoming clear to me that the race for WR2 in this 2024 draft class will down to Coleman and LSU’s Malik Nabers. — Diante Lee

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Florida State survives Clemson in overtime

No way there’s a bigger transfer portal winner this year than Coleman. His performance is now catching up with his presence — and it’s been something to see. The former Michigan State WR saved the day in overtime with a terrific fade route through contact (his specialty), but he’s also shown much better fundamentals as a route runner this season.

Travis played hurt Saturday. He was up and down, like he’s been up and down for stretches this season. But Coleman is a difference-maker (as is fellow massive target Johnny Wilson). He looks like a legit X receiver who also can play some Z. He’s got powerful hands and a developing skill set, and he’s not even close to his ceiling. Feels like a first-round pick. — Nick Baumgardner

How has he improved?

He’s gotten better at almost everything. Coleman went to Michigan State in part because he had an opportunity to play basketball. (Tom Izzo, one of the few college hoops coaches who will take football players and find roles for them, got him on the floor from time to time at a high-level program.)

During his first two years with the Spartans, Coleman was more a two-sport athlete. He clearly had a football future, but at that point he might’ve enjoyed hoops more. Now he’s competing for a football national championship in an offense that challenges him every day.

He’s a better route runner than he was a year ago. He’s better over the middle and better on the sideline. He’s shown a few QB-friendly traits early this season in terms of re-routing. It feels like he’s improved in just about all facets, and he can still get better. — Baumgardner

Clemson falls to 3-5 in its last eight games vs. Power 5 opponents.

❌ at Notre Dame
✅ vs. Miami
✅ vs. Louisville
❌ vs. South Carolina
✅ vs. UNC
❌ vs. Tennessee
❌ vs. Duke
❌ vs. Florida State pic.twitter.com/lQaOI2aihc

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 23, 2023

Coleman’s route running has been significantly more refined this season, and I think he’s using his physical frame to body up DBs even better than before. It’s evident that his feel for the game has improved now that he’s focused his energy on mastering the receiver position. His toolkit for getting open against press man or soft zone coverage makes him dangerous both in intermediate areas and on the move.

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I see him as a legitimate X receiver at the next level, with the potential to run a complete route tree. — Lee

Required reading

(Photo: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images) 

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