2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Cole Coleman, DB, Elon University

• Name: Cole Coleman 
• Position: Defensive Back
• College: Elon University
• Height: 5’10
• Weight: 190
• Twitter: TeamColeBlooded
• Instagram: TeamColeBlooded

What makes you a top prospect at your position  in the 2023 NFL Draft? 

I’m a top defensive back prospect for the NFL draft because my speed and athleticism pop off the screen and the my numbers at my pro day will show the upside I have as an elite athlete. All while my versatility and football IQ make me a relatively safe pick.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

My Dad was a wide receiver with the Tennessee Titans around the time I was born so I’d say I was practically born with a football in my hands. My first taste of organized football was at 5 years old with the North Raleigh Bulldogs.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

I’m humble, I’m going to work, and I want to win. Coming out of High School I had 1 scholarship offer to play football. I see myself in a similar situation as I transition to the league and one team is going to get a massive return on investment for investing into me.

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

United States Prison system reform

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

You are responsible for your past, present, and future. There’s not an excuse in the world that can change your reality.

Who was your childhood hero?

J. Cole 

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school? 

Bryson Daughtry, extremely difficult cover in the slot and never got the recognition he deserved. If he gets the opportunity, he’ll make some teams receiver room better. 

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

Fake confidence. I believe that bragging shows an insecurity about how other people perceive you. See it a lot from athletes.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

Struggling with injuries during my senior season in college football was the most difficulty I had to overcome. Going into the season in the best shape of my life, a freak injury caused me to miss all of pre season camp as well as the first game, then having to deal with other injuries throughout the season was extremely frustrating because I felt like i had something to prove but also just wanted to help my team win.

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

Elon was an interesting place but I’m thankful for it because it kept me humble. Nobody over there cares about football at all and being from North Carolina that was a culture shock to me. It made me develop myself outside of football and become a better man.

What is your favorite snack food?

Chewy Granola Bars, perfect for any occasion. Breakfast? Desert? Happy? Sad? Hungry? I have eaten thousands by now.

What is the best part of football?

The bonds you make with you teammates, always having a purpose and goals to strive for, and all the great things football does for communities, fans, social causes, etc.

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say? 

Teams in the NFL Draft will need to decide if they want to add me to their team and figure out how to use me as a weapon or if they’d rather play against me and try to figure out how to stop me from doing too much damage.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be? 

I think my skill set has the versatility to compare myself to multiple different players. Tyrann Mathieu is definitely a player that I’ve always tried to model my game after. 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

• Kobe, one of the greatest athletes of all time and was a great man by the time he died
• J. Cole because he’s a humble dude who remains genuine and grounded through all the distractions.
• Malcolm X because his experiences gave him a ton of wisdom and he was a revolutionary genius.