By Bob Ferrante
Orlando Sentinel Correspondent
TALLAHASSEE — Keon Coleman arrived last summer, a transfer from Michigan State intent on being productive and leading Florida State to wins on what he intended would be a short stay before being drafted by the NFL.
Coleman stepped inside FSU’s indoor practice facility one more time on Friday, spending most of his time watching and encouraging teammates before grabbing his cleats and getting to work as he ran routes alongside receiver Johnny Wilson and tight end Jaheim Bell.
Projected as a second- or third-round pick in most mock drafts, Coleman displayed crisp route running and soft hands in front of 42 NFL scouts (including new Raiders coach Antonio Pierce).
“This is the final step they get to see before they go in there and make their draft boards,” Coleman said. “Really get to make your last impression your best one. Get to talk to them in person. It’s probably one of the more important steps.
“A lot of them [scouts], they didn’t really get to see all of the things I can do on film. We were just out there having fun, putting on a show.”
With help from redshirt freshman quarterback Brock Glenn, who threw everything from crossing routes to deep balls, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Coleman put on a short but entertaining show. He glided across the field and caught every pass, although one deep ball from Glenn was well beyond the receiver’s reach. Coleman is often viewed as a second-day pick in the three-day draft, which runs from April 25-27.
Many of FSU’s draft prospects chose to stand on their 40-yard dash times from the NFL Scouting Combine and skipped agility drills. Safety Akeem Dent, who did not get a combine invite, smiled after turning in a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash.
Seminoles gathered around the weight bench to cheer on those who did the bench press, with strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms spotting. Offensive lineman Casey Roddick led the way with 27 reps at 225 pounds while linebacker Kalen DeLoach had an impressive 23 reps.
While he is not able to compete, injured quarterback Jordan Travis is meeting with NFL teams and intends to run and work out in April when he is cleared.
“Moving around the other day, I felt good,” Travis said. “I think I’ll be able to do it sometime in April. I think that’s a great way to go out and show teams I’m getting better every single day.”
If Travis is able to work out, it could secure he would be drafted following speculation teams would pass on him following his November leg surgery. He also could give FSU the potential for 12 draft picks, which would surpass the 11 selections FSU had in the 2015 and ’13 drafts.
Jared Verse, who is projected as a top-15 pick, didn’t take part in workouts on Friday but returned to encourage friends and meet with scouts. Unranked as a tight end in the class of 2019, Verse went to FCS Albany and turned into an All-American defensive end while recording 89 tackles and 18 sacks in two seasons at FSU, which he credits for his development.
“You can just look at my before-and-after pictures,” Verse said. “The strength and training program here, it’s insane. I came back here early to get some more work in with coach Storms. They are going to make you stronger. They are going to make you faster. They are going to make you bigger. You’re just going to mentally be prepared for what it takes to get to that level. Because it’s not for everyone.”
