Saraland’s Antonio Coleman, one of the nation’s top defensive linemen, has led the Spartans with 43 tackles for loss the last two years. (Call News file photo)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
SARALAND — Saraland four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, who found Auburn coach Hugh Freeze to be as incessantly aggressive as he is, committed to the Tigers for the second time on Saturday.
Coleman (6-4, 280) — a four-star prospect who is rated the No. 12 defensive lineman nationally in the 2025 class, according to On3’s composite — originally committed to Alabama last season, switched to Auburn in December, went back to the Crimson Tide in March, then announced on social media he had recommitted to the Tigers on Big Cat Weekend.
Coleman expects a lot of double and triple teaming “but it’s not going to stop me,” he said. (John O’Dell/Call News)
Earlier this month, Coleman told the Call News that Alabama was most attractive to him because of the coaching he’d get and because UA offers a minor in real estate — something he gives up grudgingly.
“It was which program was going to develop me the best to produce at the next level,” he said.
Coleman — who can play any position on the defensive line — has proven to be virtually unblockable, amassing 131 tackles and leading the Spartans with 43 tackles for losses in the last two seasons, numbers that linebackers typically produce. He also has 7.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hurries.
“He’s caused a lot of chaos for linemen and quarterbacks,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said.
Coleman said Freeze, likewise, never stopped pursuing him even after he committed to Alabama twice.
“That’s what I like about him,” Coleman told Auburn Wire. “He’s determined and that’s the type of people I would like to be around.”
When he committed to the Tigers the first time, Coleman said he wanted to be part of one of the most hyped defensive line classes in school history which included Opelika’s Malik Autrey, Parker’s Jourdin Crawford and Kalen Edwards of Dyersburg, Tenn., who has since committed to Kentucky.
“It’s knowing I would be playing alongside other great players,” Coleman said. “I want to be part of something that’s being built instead of something that’s already there.”
Going into his senior year at Saraland, Coleman said is ready to show why he is rated as one of the country’s best defensive linemen.
“I want to really dominate,” he said. “It’s just going to be that ‘you can’t block me mentality.’ I want to be one of the best D-linemen to come out of this state. I’m going to see chopping, double teams, all types of stuff. Probably even triple teaming, to be honest. But it’s not going to stop me.”
