Saraland defensive lineman Antonio Coleman signs with Auburn Wednesday surrounded by his family, including, from left, his father Tony, uncles Jermaine Rogers and Alphonso Kirby, mother Omekia and stepfather Cedric Wooten. (Jimmy Wigfield/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
SARALAND — Antonio Coleman is looking forward to being a part of making Auburn a national contender again.
And one other thing.
“I’m just excited to see how he does without being doubled and triple teamed all the time,” Saraland defensive coordinator Brett West said after Coleman signed with the Tigers Wednesday.
Coleman (6-2, 265), the No. 14 defensive lineman in the nation, according to On3’s composite rankings, joined what could be one of Auburn’s most heralded defensive line classes, signing along with Thompson’s Jared Smith (the No. 3 edge rusher in the nation), plus Opelika’s Malik Autry (No. 10) and Parker’s Jourdin Crawford (No. 15).
“I feel like the defensive line is going to be a big part of that,” Coleman said of restoring the Tigers into a national power. “Me, Jourdin, Malik and Jared, a lot of those guys, I feel like on the defensive line we’re going to cause a lot of havoc. It’s going to be fun to play with those boys and we’ve already got chemistry from the recruiting process.”
Coleman and his coaches expect him to contribute as a freshman.
“I most definitely do,” Coleman said. “I feel like that’s what’s going to happen.”
Spartans coach Jeff Kelly said Coleman, who has always been an agile big man, could be in for a startling metamorphosis after he gets into Auburn’s nutritional and conditioning program.
“I would not be shocked at all,” Kelly said when asked if Coleman will play as a true freshman. “I know they have high expectations and Tony has shown the ability to be a dominant player. I think the thing that you’ll see out of Tony over his first year at the next level is spending time with dieticians and nutrition programs and in the strength and conditioning programs. I think you’ll see him continue to develop physically to a point where 12 months from now, he’s going to look like a different young man. I think he’s going to contribute big time.”
West said he has been told Coleman will likely play the three technique, where he will line up on the offensive guard’s outside shoulder between the guard and the tackle to be disruptive and get penetration.
“Antonio is probably one of the most underrated D-linemen in the country,” Auburn defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams said. “He’s truly twitchy and powerful. He’s explosive … he’s a big play waiting to happen.”
Coleman has been synonymous with disruption for three years at Saraland. He has 180 tackles, 19 sacks, 60 tackles for losses, 10 forced fumbles and four defensive touchdowns in his career.
“His ball getoff, to be the size that he is, is incredible,” West said. “There’s times that you think he must know the snap count or something but he just gets off the ball so fast, so explosive. And one thing that he’s done a better job of just from when he came in as a freshman and now is understanding how to use his hands and pad level. He’s doing a good job of striking and being violent with his hands and you’ve got to do that against those offensive lineman in the SEC.”
Kelly said Coleman — who will likely be a three-time first-team All-State player — has been a model of consistency despite ever-increasing double and triple teams.
“You see him at practice, you see that same level of intensity and that kind of stuff every day,” Kelly said. “Tony’s one of the best defensive linemen in the country. He’s done a great job day in and day out of staying in the moment, continuing to be about proving who he is as a player and he’s absolutely wreaked havoc on many offensive lines over the last three years. He’s probably double teamed and tripled teamed more than anybody in the state of Alabama but he frees up production and play and tackles numbers for his teammates. He’s played in a position where it’s really probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, spot on the defensive side because you’re never one-on-one. You’re never a single. You’re always down to double and triple teams. I’m proud of where he is as a player and also of where he is as a young man.”
Coleman is part of a consensus top-5 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals, even though the Tigers missed on five-star Parker cornerback Na’eem Offord, who signed with Oregon.
“I’m real excited,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze told Auburn Undercover. “I’ve been clear since my arrival that I thought it would take three top-10 classes to overhaul our roster. It’s validation that we’re on the right track even after a difficult season.”
Freeze said some of the Tigers’ commitments told him other coaching staffs alleged Freeze was going to resign because of poor health.
