From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Missouri WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
No. 3 Kevin Coleman Jr./WR Missouri 5102/179 (Fourth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Kevin Coleman Jr. 5102/179 9 1/2″ 30″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.49 1.62 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’6″ 38.5″ N/A
The Good
– Excellent release out of his stance
– Erases cushions between himself and the defender quickly with his burst
– Maintains top speed even through breaks
– Capable of sinking his hips at the top of his route stem
– High-level understanding of leverage manipulation and attacking blind spots
– Reliable hands that pluck the ball away from his frame
– Plays larger than his size in contested catch situations
– Dynamic after the catch with great vision in the open field
– Rapidly switches from receiver to runner with the ball in his hands
– Plays tough over the middle, maintaining possession through congested areas
– Embraces “no block, no rock” mentality with his stalk blocking
– High special teams value as a returner
The Bad
– Lacks elite top-end gear to beat defenses deep
– Won’t break many tackles when defenders wrap him up
– His route tree was limited at Missouri, running primarily screens and hitches
– Can be passive against zone coverage and settle rather than finding soft spots
– Limited catch radius due to shorter arm length
– Struggles on jump balls down the field
– Primarily a one-position player designated to the slot
Stats
– 2025 stats: 66 catches, 732 yards, 11.1 yards per reception, 1 touchdown, 2 drops, 9 rushes, 76 yards, 13 games played
– Career stats: 191 catches, 2350 yards, 12.65 yards per reception, 10 touchdowns, 7 drops, 19 rushes, 112 yards, 50 games played
– Mississippi State Career stats: 74 catches, 932 yards, 12.6 yards per reception, 6 touchdowns, 4 drops, 4 rushes, 11 yards, 12 games played
– Louisville Career stats: 26 catches, 362 yards, 13.9 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns, 1 drop, 6 rushes, 25 yards, 14 games played
– Jackson State Career Stats: 25 receptions, 324 yards, 13 yards per reception, 1 touchdown, 11 games played
– Career Return Stats: 63 punt returns, 547 yards, 8.7 yards per return, 1 touchdown
– 5.9 yards after catch per reception (2025)
– 2.35 yards per route run (2025)
– 8 yards adjusted depth of target (2025)
– 3.1 drop percentage (2025)
Injury History
– Suffered a right ankle injury against Alabama but managed to return to the game (2025)
Background
– Born September 10th, 2003 (22 years old)
– Four-star recruit and number one-ranked recruit in Missouri after being named the Gatorade and MaxPreps Player of the Year
– Originally committed to Jackson State to play under Deion Sanders before playing for three teams in three years (Louisville (2023), Mississippi State (2024), Missouri (2025))
– Named All-Metro Co-Offensive Player of the Year and an Under Armour All-American
– Played receiver, defensive back, return specialist, and occasionally quarterback due to injuries
– Scored 29 all-purpose touchdowns during his senior season
– Maintained a 3.54 GPA in high school
– Ran track and field, where he recorded an 11.32-second 100-meter dash as a freshman
– Third-team All-SEC at Mississippi State, where after ranking second in the conference in receptions and receiving yards (2024)
– Named SWAC Freshman of the Year during his lone season at Jackson State (2022)
– Wears a necklace and jersey #3 to honor his late younger brother
– Received support from “The Kids’ Clubhouse,” which helped him navigate the loss
– Has a tattoo on his chest and wears a wristband with the mantra “Just Different,” which is the mindset he lives by
– Classically trained in multiple instruments (violin, viola, and trumpet)
– Avid bowler who also enjoys golf and has started to learn horseback riding
– Hosted a free youth football camp at The Principia School in St. Louis
Tape Breakdown
Despite playing at four different schools in four years, Coleman has found a way to produce at every stop. He’s a good, though not spectacular, athlete with incredibly fluid hips and a low center of gravity that allows him to stop on a dime at the top of his routes. While he doesn’t have elite long speed to consistently take the top off a defense, he’s very quick and agile, which makes him effective in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field.
His time at Missouri primarily focused on a quick-game passing attack designed to get the ball into the hands of its playmakers. As a result, Coleman didn’t have many opportunities to showcase how elusive he can be as a route runner, but when he did, he made those chances count. Throughout his routes, Coleman’s speed never changes, which ultimately sets him apart despite not being a true burner. Against man coverage, he’s highly effective on route concepts such as slants and deep overs because he can break at full speed.
Coleman consistently uses a “square-cut” technique on his intermediate routes, forcefully planting his outside foot to snap his hips and cut outside without losing momentum. He’s effective at using leverage to his advantage, leaning his stems inside before square-cutting back outside to create additional separation.
Against zone coverage, Coleman is similarly effective thanks to his spatial awareness. He isn’t the most aggressive at hunting soft spots, but he understands how to split defenders and present a clean target to the quarterback.
While his route running should earn him early snaps in the NFL, his ability to create after the catch may be an even bigger asset. He’s not the most sudden athlete, but he’s highly efficient with his movements. After securing the reception, he often uses a “dead leg” in the open field to bait defenders into over-pursuing before cutting back. Rather than dancing laterally, he gets his shoulders turned upfield and focuses on maximizing yardage.
His vision is also superb. He can quickly identify open grass and read the leverage of second-level defenders to determine his most productive path.
However, most of his yards after the catch will come from making defenders miss in space rather than running through contact. If an opponent gets a solid shot on him, he doesn’t have the frame or play strength to consistently break tackles; with good contact, it doesn’t take much to bring him down.
For a smaller receiver, Coleman has very dependable hands. He consistently uses the diamond technique to secure targets above the waist, aligning his hands to form a pocket that cleanly receives the ball. Receivers who master this skill tend to have fewer issues with drops because it helps them absorb the velocity of the throw.
He also performs surprisingly well in traffic. Many smaller receivers struggle to maintain possession through contact because of the sheer force they must absorb. Coleman mitigates that by using late hands, which prevent defenders from keying on the ball until the last possible moment. This delays their reaction and keeps defensive backs and linebackers from playing through his catch point as aggressively, buying him just enough time to secure the ball and protect himself.
Lastly, Coleman is an exceptional returner. He blends his instant stop-start ability with his vision in the open field to turn dead returns into chunk gains. Just as he manipulates leverage after the catch, he carries the same approach into the return game, consistently baiting defenders into poor angles before using a dead leg to change direction.
He may not be a true burner, but his short-area quickness and agility allow him to make defenders miss in tight quarters and generate explosive returns.
Conclusion
Coleman is a textbook example of a better football player than a pure tester. He didn’t blow the roof off the building in Indianapolis, and he’s unlikely to be a truly explosive athlete at the next level. Even so, he’s been a steady producer everywhere he’s played, including against top competition.
He isn’t elite in any single area, but he also doesn’t have glaring weaknesses. He runs sharp routes, disguises intentions, and manipulates leverage to create separation at the top. His unique ability to maintain his speed throughout the entire stem allows him to separate late.
Coleman’s hands are very dependable, a strength that showed up consistently across his four collegiate seasons. His use of the diamond technique helps him secure high-velocity throws over the middle and in traffic. Despite his smaller frame, he consistently finishes catches through contact, an impressive trait for a receiver of his size.
His main obstacles at the next level will be his physical profile and limited positional versatility. His size and lack of top-end speed likely confine him to a primary slot role in the NFL. Most of his college snaps came inside, so the role fits, but limited strength reduces his effectiveness on the boundary. Fortunately for him, today’s pass-heavy league still gives true slot specialists plenty of opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
A fitting comparison for Coleman is Khalil Shakir, who came out of Boise State. Both are shorter receivers who understand how to navigate the middle of the field and protect themselves from big hits. Shakir is a bit more compact and carries more mass, but Coleman has been notably durable throughout his career.
NFL Draft Projection: Early – Mid Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.9 (ST) (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.1 – 8.2
Games Watched: @ Georgia (2024 – Mississippi State), vs. Kansas (2025), @ Auburn (2025), @ Vanderbilt (2025), @ Arkansas (2025)
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