Rutgers Wide Receiver Brandon Coleman Eases Back Into System Following Knee Surgery

Fans heading to the Rutgers University football team’s public practice this weekend or either of their upcoming scrimmages shouldn’t expect to see a whole lot of junior wide receiver Brandon Coleman.

Coleman, who missed all of spring practice, is still recovering from offseason knee surgery, and by his own account and that of his head coach Kyle Flood, returning to the field is something he’s going to ease into.

“I’m not going to a full go (when training camp opens),” Coleman said on Thursday, Aug. 1, the day the Scarlet Knights football players reported to camp. “The coaches have a plan for me and I’m going to go with whatever they say. … You have to be mature about the situation. You have to be smart. These coaches have been doing this for years.”

Coleman tied a Rutgers school record with 10 touchdown catches last season. He is currently fifth on the school's career touchdown catches list with 16. He led the team with 718 receiving yards, and was named second team all-Big East.

Heading into the season, he's on the Biletnikoff Watchlist, and has been selected preseason third team all-American by The Sporting News and a preseason first-team all-conference selection by Phil Steele and Athlon.

Flood said they know enough about him that missing time in training camp won’t negatively impact his preparation for the season.

“He’s played in enough games that we don’t have to see him in scrimmages,” Flood said.

He added Coleman will be 100 percent by the time the Scarlet Knights take the field at Fresno State for the season opener Aug. 29. He also said that despite the progress of the other wide receivers during spring practice, the team will rely on Coleman as the veteran wide receiver.

Senior Jeremy Deering, who played in 12 games last year, will convert from receiver to free safety for the 2013 campaign. Senior Quron Pratt, junior Miles Shuler and sophomore Leonte Caroo will battle for playing time, but also provide the position with plenty of depth.

“The other guys came a long way this offseason,” Coleman said.

He added he’s excited about getting back on the field.

“I miss being around these guys,” Coleman said.

“I’m really excited about Brandon coming back,” junior quarterback Gary Nova said. “I didn’t get a chance to work with him because of his injury and I’m looking forward to it.”

When Coleman returns to the field, he has a new offensive coordinator to get to know.

Ron Prince, the former Kansas State head coach who spent the last three years in the NFL working with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lines, joins the team in that role this year. He replaces Dave Brock, the new head coach at Delaware.

Players are excited about the opportunity to run the ball in the pro-style attack being implemented by Flood and Prince.

“There will be more opportunities for me to catch the ball and run the ball,” junior said fullback Michael Burton, who noted this spring was the most he’s carried the ball since coming to Rutgers. “As I show him how versatile I can be, he’ll be more likely to use me more.”

Dave Cohen begins his tenure as the defensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights this year, after former defensive coordinator Rob Smith joined former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers.

Flood said defensively, the secondary is an area the team will work on as training camp progresses.

Camp runs from Friday, Aug. 2-Tuesday, Aug. 20. The Scarlet Knights will host an open practice for the public Sunday night, Aug. 4.

Their first scrimmage and their kickoff celebration are both Saturday, Aug. 10, while their second scrimmage is Saturday, Aug. 17.

The season begins Thursday night, Aug. 29, at Fresno State, 10:30. The game will air live on ESPNU.