The Rutgers Scarlet Knights had a hard time scoring the football in 2012, finishing as the No. 96 scoring offense in college football a season ago. New offensive coordinator Ron Prince is looking to add a little more pop to the offense in 2013, but has to find some playmakers to get it done. He’s been working this spring without one of the team’s key offensive weapons in wide receiver Brandon Coleman who has been recovering from offseason surgery. If the Knights have any hope of improving their offense in 2013, they need Coleman to come back healthy and stronger than ever.
Coleman will return in 2013 after leading the team in receiving during his sophomore season in 2012. He finished the year with 43 catches for 718 yards and 10 touchdowns. The next two leading receivers from last season, Mark Harrison and Timothy Wright, have both graduated leaving a vacuum of proven talent at the wide receiver position. Coleman will have to be counted on as the clear No. 1 wide receiver and will get the bulk of the looks in the Rutgers’ passing game next fall.
At 6-foot-6 and 220-pounds, Coleman is a tall, lanky receiver who can go up and make plays in the passing game. He has been sidelined all spring, however, following a small procedure on his right knee about six weeks ago. While he’s been on crutches recovering, Coleman has spent extra time in the film and weight room, learning the ins and outs of Prince’s offensive system while he improves his upper body strength. Getting the mental reps in now will help ease the transition when he jumps in at full speed next fall.
The junior wide receiver is on track to get off the crutches in the next week and start running again in July. He’s confident he will be 100 percent healthy by the time fall camp opens and he will be ready physically and mentally to lead the Rutgers’ passing attack. For the Knights’ chances of succeeding in the Big East for 2013, the team surely hopes so.
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