Dayton Daily News
March 6, 2010
Ohio State’s Coleman clicks with Browns
He had been briefed by former Ohio State teammates about what to expect, but the NFL Scouting Combine still must be experienced to be believed.
“More than anything, it’s just draining,” safety Kurt Coleman (Northmont) said this week after emerging from the four-day process in Indianapolis with a better idea of how he is perceived by teams.
“You really have to stay alert and on top of your game. There were meetings with coaches at 10 p.m., and you still had to be sharp.”
Coleman thinks he clicked with several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, who need help in the secondary. Others showing more than casual interest have been the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, he said.
“I talked to the Browns’ secondary coach and we were vibing right away,” Coleman said. “My agent said they liked me a lot. I think the coaches saw I was intelligent and a leader.”
The league leaves few stones unturned — and no body part unexamined, as Coleman discovered after submitting to three MRIs to check on the status of old injuries. That process took about three hours, he said.
An abdominal strain kept Coleman from running, but teams learned he could bench press 225 pounds 19 times (same as more-heralded Tennessee safety Eric Berry), that his hand measures
9 1/8 inches and his arms are
30 3/4 inches long.
Coleman is being projected to go anywhere from the third round to the fifth. A good 40 time at OSU’s pro day March 12 could make the difference. One scouting report: “He should be a contributor on special teams as a rookie, but may take some time to get on the field defensively.”
Dayton Daily News
February 5, 2010
Area Buckeyes await NFL call
Northmont’s Kurt Coleman, Springboro’s Jake Ballard sign autographs at mall.
By Greg Billing, Staff Writer
BEAVERCREEK — When the National Football League comes calling in April — and early projections look good — hometown prospects Kurt Coleman and Jake Ballard will have plenty of practice signing their names to those contracts.
The pair of Ohio State Buckeyes (along with defensive end Thaddeus Gibson) appeared at Cardboard Heroes at the Mall at Fairfield Commons on Thursday, Feb. 4, inking their names on everything from helmets to jerseys to photos.
While they enjoyed meeting the public — about 75 fans were in line when the event started — that NFL contract is what they want placed in front of them the most.
Coleman, a strong safety from Northmont High School, said he’s being projected as a second- or third-rounder.
Ballard, a tight end from Springboro, said he’s hearing the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds, or possibly not at all.
“I’m hearing I could be the second safety or fifth safety taken off the board,” said Coleman, whose stock has risen after playing in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January.
“I think the scouts and coaches really liked what I can do. They feel like I can play safety and corner. I’m getting a lot of raves from like the Bears and the Browns. Hopefully I can stay in Ohio and play for one of the teams.”
Coleman said he met with more than 20 teams at the Senior Bowl and the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs showed the most interest. If he can post a fast enough time in the 40-yard dash, teams will also consider Coleman for cornerback.
Ballard, meanwhile, said teams looking for a blocking tight end are showing the most interest.
“(My agent is) saying the teams looking for blocking tight ends are the Jets, Vikings, Bengals, teams like that,” Ballard said. “I have a weird feeling I might be playing football in Ohio next year. We’ll see. I’ll play for anybody who gives me a chance.”
Ballard thinks he can be more than just a blocking tight end at the NFL level. He knows he needs to show off those receiving and route-running skills at his pro day workout.
“It just depends on my pro day and how fast I can be,” Ballard said. “They don’t know how fast I am or what routes I run because at Ohio State we ran the ball a lot. That’s OK because we won a lot of games. ... I think I’m a good blocking tight end. At the same time I think I can be a great receiving tight end and be one of those guys who can do both.”
Dayton Daily News
January 12, 2010
Northmont's Ringer on All-American Team
By Kyle Nagel | Monday, January 11, 2010, 03:58 PM
Kaleb Ringer, as a sophomore, was already showing signs this season that he could be the next great linebacker recruit in the Miami Valley.
The national high school sports Web site Maxpreps.com backed that up by including the Northmont High School star on its national sophomore All-America Team, which was released last week.
Ringer, the third of four Ringer brothers in the Northmont program and the nephew of former Chaminade Julienne running back Javon Ringer, proved to be one of the best blitzers around with a mix of size (6-0, 200) and explosive speed.
He was the only sophomore on the DDN All-Area first team this season, which provides a lot of interest in his next two seasons.
Northmont grad Coleman is OSU football MVP
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Safety Kurt Coleman is the Ohio State football team's MVP.
He also received awards as outstanding defensive player and best in the Michigan game at Sunday's awards banquet. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor was selected as the top offensive player.
Other award winners: Andrew Moses (academics); Zach Boren (first-year offensive player); John Simon (first-year defensive player); Ray Small (special teams); Ross Homan (linebacker); Dane Sanzenbacher (receiver); Brandon Saine and Dan Herron (outstanding offensive back); Anderson Russell (defensive back); Dan Potokar (most inspirational); Jake Ballard (offensive lineman); Thaddeus Gibson (Homecoming game standout); Cameron Heyward (Agonis award); Thaddeus Gibson (Jim Marshall); and Cameron Heyward (defensive lineman).
Dayton Daily News
November 23, 2009
By Kyle Nagel | Monday, November 23, 2009, 08:21 PM
Area football products Kurt Coleman, Brandon Saine and Ross Homan were named to All-Big Ten teams on Monday, Nov. 23, as three of six Ohio State players on the first and second teams.
Coleman, a defensive back from Northmont High School, was named to the first-team defense by both the coaches and the media. In the coaches vote, Coleman was the only Buckeyes player on the first-team offense or defense. The media also named offensive lineman Justin Boren to the first-team offense.
Saine, a running back from Piqua, was named a second-team running back by both the coaches and media. He was joined on the second-team by linebacker Ross Homan, a Coldwater product.
Also on the second team from Ohio State were defensive linemen Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward.
Chris Borland, a Wisconsin linebacker out of Alter High School, was named the conference’s freshman of the year by both the coaches and media.
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