Toledo DB recruit Mike Coleman to join offensive attack for Woodland Hills

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, June 30, 2018 | 9:42 PM

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Woodland Hills didn’t need Mike Coleman’s playmaking abilities on offense quite as much last season with Naszhir Taylor available on the perimeter.

Expect that to change this fall.

Now that Taylor, a Cal (Pa.) recruit, is gone to graduation, Coleman will play much more at wide receiver this season, Woodland Hills coach Tim Bostard said. And he can’t wait to see what the Toledo recruit has in store on that side of the ball.

“I just want to get the ball on his hands,” Bostard said. “I think he can be an extreme playmaker. He’s got good speed, and he’s a shifty kind of kid, so anytime you get the ball in his hands he can create a play.”

Coleman showed his playmaking ability on a 40-yard interception return last season against North Hills, setting up a short touchdown drive in the Wolverines’ 17-9 victory.

The lean defensive back also plays bigger than his size as a physical defender in the run game, with his highlight video showcasing several rattling tackles. His 40-yard dash time measures in the mid-4.4s.

“He’s the type of kid that’ll come downhill and hit you, but at the same time he’ll cover probably the best wide receiver 1-on-1,” Bostard said.

More than a dozen schools offered scholarships to Coleman since January, but he ultimately committed to Toledo, which was the first.

“Mike’s a dedicated, hard-working kid that hardly ever misses a workout,” Bostard said. “When he’s there, he’s always strapping to get better. That’s the type of kid that he is.”

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Woodland Hills