Indiana University Athletics
NFL Combine: Tevin Coleman
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Tevin Coleman met with the media at the NFL Combine on Thursday. Below is a transcript from the session:
Your agent just told me you are the best running back in this draft. Why is he right? Why are you the best running back in this class?
"I feel that my speed, size, my burst and my vision and my ability to hit the holes fast is probably why."
What does it mean that you were able to run for 2,000 yards?
"I feel like it means a lot. It means a lot to me and I worked hard for it."
What is your favorite running play?
"Probably 57 Queen."
Tell me a little about it.
"It's an outside zone play."
Do you like the outside zone plays because you have the chance to use your vision and then burst through the hole?
"Yes, definitely...definitely."
Are you participating in any drills this week?
"The only thing I'm doing is benching."
So you're not doing the forty or anything else?
"No sir."
How disappointing is it that you are not able to do all that? "It's real disappointing to not show what I have. I was really ready to do so but my doctor said I shouldn't do it so I am just following his rules and his orders. Come (IU) Pro Day I'll be ready."
When did the injury occur? What was it?
"It was my toe, it was a sesamoid thing. He took a sesamoid bone and reattached the tendon to the other bone."
When was it?
"It happened in the fifth game of the season and I played through it and then I got surgery in December so after the season."
It was probably painful to play with that.
"Yes, it was definitely painful."
So you had surgery right after the season ended?
"Yes sir."
What was your injury history before that?
"I really didn't have any injuries except for my sophomore year my ankle, but that is about it."
How does the zone blocking scheme fit the way you run?
"Oh, that fits a lot because I'm a guy that loves outside zone and has great vision and I love to read blocks."
How do you assess your blocking ability?
"I'm a great pass protector, so I don't have any problems with that at all."
Have you thought at all about staying in-state with the Colts needing a running back? Have you thought at all about playing here?
"I have. It would be great to be back in Indiana. It would be a great feeling."
What's the process been like for you?
"It is an amazing process being here with all these great athletes. It means the world to me because ever since I was little I thought about having the chance to be here and now that I'm here it is a really great feeling to be here."
What are your hopes for the draft? Why did you ultimately decide to come out?
"I felt with the season that I had I was ready to help a team win a Super Bowl."
How tough was it this season when you lost the quarterbacks and you had to pretty much carry the load even more?
"It was real tough, but what can you do. You have to keep on playing and you have to keep on fighting. I just had to lead my team and tell them to keep fighting."
Tevin, do you plan to run at your pro day workout?
"Yes, definitely. I will be 100 percent."
Q - What is the biggest thing you took away from your experience at Indiana? What were you able to learn from Kevin Wilson?
"He has taught me a lot and Coach (Deland) McCullough has taught me a lot. They taught me to keep on working and keep on finishing and never be satisfied with anything even if I had 2,000 yards or had a good game...never be satisfied with it."
You talked about how well your style fits into the zone scheme. One of the teams in the NFL that runs a zone scheme is the (Baltimore) Ravens. Have they contacted you or do you have any meetings scheduled with them?
"They haven't contacted me yet and I haven't had a meeting with them yet. Hopefully I do so."
With what DeMarco Murray and Marshawn Lynch did this past season do you anticipate a running back resurgence in the NFL?
"Oh yes, definitely. They are great backs and I look up to them. That is my style of back, DeMarco Murray or Darren McFadden. That is kind of how I run."
Have you met with the Colts at all yet?
"Yes, yesterday I met with the Colts but I'm probably going to have another meeting with them today."
How much have you been able to run or physically test the toe so far?
"I tested the toe...I got out of the boot a week-and-a-half before I came up here and I tested the toe doing 40 starts. That is the only thing I have done. I didn't do full speed. I just did five yards out and it felt pretty good."
So you just got back to running full speed in the last week or so?
"No, I haven't gone full speed. I just did 40 starts and that's about it."
Some mock drafts have you going to San Diego. What are your thoughts on the Chargers?
"I would love to play for them. I would love to be down there in San Diego"
I know you are not going to run this week but what type of 40 time do you expect to have when you do run in April?
"I expect to run a 4.39 or a 4.40. That's what I'm reaching for."
