Wister Coleman says he recognized his son Tevin’s talent the first time he stepped on a football field at age 8.
It didn’t matter which position Tevin played for the Mid-Crest Panthers youth football program, he pretty much stole the show, his father says.
"The ability and speed he had at a young age was such that we realized football was his talent," Wister Coleman said. "He had a passion for the game. He loved playing. I knew that was going to take him further."
How much further?
How about to Houston, Texas, host of Sunday’s Super Bowl LI between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.
Coleman, who wears No. 26, will line up at running back for the Falcons.
Disabato: Oak Forest grad Tevin Coleman brings local flavor to Super Bowl Warren Skalski / Chicago Tribune Oak Forest graduate Tevin Coleman earned 2011 Daily Southtown Player of the Year honors. On Sunday, he’ll line up at running back for the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Warren Skalski/Daily Southtown Oak Forest graduate Tevin Coleman earned 2011 Daily Southtown Player of the Year honors. On Sunday, he’ll line up at running back for the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Warren Skalski/Daily Southtown (Warren Skalski / Chicago Tribune)
The 2012 Oak Forest graduate has been a key contributor for the NFC South Division champions. Coleman rushed for 525 yards and eight touchdowns and 421 receiving yards in 13 regular season games.
The sight of the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Coleman, a third-round pick by Atlanta in the 2015 NFL draft, isn’t surprising to those who, like myself, watched him dominate at Oak Forest.
He was electric. A man among boys on many game nights.
Nor is it shocking to his former Bengals teammates who had an up close and personal view of Coleman during his three-year varsity career.
Tom Zale was starting quarterback during Coleman’s senior season. There were many practices and games where Coleman left Zale shaking his head in disbelief.
"On an everyday basis he had his teammates talking about him," said Zale, now a senior at Illinois Wesleyan. "He would do extraordinary stuff. Any time he would get the ball, no one was safe. You could see he was the type of player who could one day play in the NFL. He was the best I’ve ever played with or against."
Rondell Sadler was a starting linebacker at Oak Forest. Every day Sadler had the challenge of going up against the speedy and elusive Coleman in practice.
Disabato: Oak Forest grad Tevin Coleman brings local flavor to Super Bowl Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Oak Forest graduate Tevin Coleman rushed for 525 yards in 13 regular season games for the Atlanta Falcons, who take on the New England Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl LI. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** Oak Forest graduate Tevin Coleman rushed for 525 yards in 13 regular season games for the Atlanta Falcons, who take on the New England Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl LI. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
"As soon as Tevin hit that corner, he was gone," Sadler said. "He was so fast. He had great vision. He would make cuts where you would be like, ‘what just happened?’"
Sadler said he also was equally astonished by Coleman’s strength. The two occasionally worked out together at a local health club.
"He was bench-pressing 305 pounds as a sophomore," Sadler said. "He was strong. He’d give you a stiff arm and there was no way you were going to make a play on him. He’s the type of kid who was gifted when he was born."
Those gifts helped him garner the 2011 Daily Southtown Player of the Year honor. Coleman averaged 11.4 yards per carry and 21.5 yards per catch his senior season at Oak Forest.
He also returned kicks and punts and occasionally played defensive back.
Humble and soft-spoken, Coleman possessed the skill set to lift fans from their seat every time the football was in his hands.
He was thunder and lightning all wrapped up in one remarkable package.
Never was that more exemplified than during a 47-12 win over Rich Central his senior season.
Coleman scored four touchdowns: one rushing, one receiving, one on a kickoff and another on an interception return. He ran the kickoff back 85 yards and returned the interception 80 yards.
It was an epic performance, famously dubbed "The Tevin Coleman Game." Rich Central coach Terrell Alexander still marvels at the performance.
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"Tevin scored every possible way," Alexander said. "We had game-planned to stop him as a runner. But he did it all. It was crazy. Sometimes game plans don’t work out. It was clear he was a next-level dude."
That next level was at Indiana, where he earned All-American honors. More than 30 Division I college programs recruited Coleman, though the majority wanted him to play defense. Coleman preferred to play running back — or at least have an opportunity to succeed or fail before switching positions.
Indiana gave him that chance.
"He always liked to play offense more than defense," said Wister Coleman, who was born in Liberia. "He loved playing running back."
Wister Coleman will be in attendance Sunday. He’ll be joined by Tevin’s brothers Calvin and Wister III, Tevin’s uncle Mohamed Coleman and Tevin’s mother Adlevia.
Wister Coleman called the opportunity for his son to play in a Super Bowl "a dream come true."
He stressed, however, that his son’s ascent to the NFL demanded hard work, discipline and a guidance greater than any parent could provide.
"He deserves to be where he’s at," Wister Coleman said. "He’s worked hard. I tried to support him and guide him. Sometimes Tevin didn’t like it. With God’s grace and mercy, Tevin did it. We give thanks to God. It’s pretty unique to be in his second year in the NFL and to be in a Super Bowl. I’m excited for him."
pdisabato@tribpub.com
Twitter @disabato
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