Louisville further solidified it’s wide receiver room with the signing of Jackson State transfer Kevin Coleman Jr.
Louisville football was in desperate need of a wide receiver to fill the void left by NFL Draft entrant Tyler Hudson and long-time commit turned Texas signee DeAndre Moore.
The Cards did well to supplement these losses by adding Jimmy Calloway from Tennessee and Jadon Thompson of Cincinnati to the wide receiver room. Freshmen William Fowles, Jahlil McClain, and Cataurus Hicks figure to have a chance of making the rotation in 2023. And returnees Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Braden Smith, Dee Wiggins, Chris Bell, and Chance Morrow will all have a chance at a starting spot come fall.
However, Louisville football desperately needed a stud, do-it-all pass-catcher.
Enter Kevin Coleman Jr., one of the elite wide receivers in the transfer portal, and the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2022.
Coleman was one of the top prospects in the 2022 class, ranked 54th overall, and the best player in the state of Missouri.
The St. Louis native was once considered a 5-star by multiple recruiting services and immediately becomes the third-highest-ever player to sign with the Cards behind Michael Bush and Brian Brohm.
Also read: Breaking down Louisville’s newest QB Jack Plummer
What Louisville football is getting in Kevin Coleman
Coleman is a polished, multi-level wide receiver who played all over the field in high school.
Accounting for 33 receptions, 510 yards, and 3 TDs in his freshman season, Coleman showed improvement game over game, finishing with a 7 reception, 137-yard game, and a touchdown in Jackson State’s bowl game.
Coleman received serious praise out of high school.
“He’s very quick,” former coach Ken Turner said of Coleman. A lot of guys are track fast but it doesn’t translate to the football field. Well, he’s football fast and he’s track fast.”
Allen Trieu of 247Sports says Turner projects as an NFL Second-Rounder.
“Very quick, sudden prospect who creates a lot of separation with his explosiveness out of his breaks. Makes cuts at full speed. Excellent in the open field. Has good timed speed and accelerates quickly. Very good hands and ball skills. Catches the ball comfortably away from his body and in traffic over the middle. Has to keep getting stronger. Not the biggest receiver, but fits very well in today’s spread-out offenses. Will be a playmaker who can work short to intermediate routes and go the distance after the catch. Has also made plays as a return man and wildcat quarterback and can score in a variety of ways. Polished and competitive, which can lead to early impact at the next level and a potential career after college.”
Coleman should be looked at as a week 1 starter for Louisville football.
