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Portage: He’s Mr Versatility
Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM
While messing around at Portage’s youth camp a few weeks ago, Rashaan Coleman dropped back and threw the football.
The ball traveled 65 yards in the air — a spiral, no less.
“I used to play quarterback, I can throw the ball,” Coleman said. “It’s always something that’s been there. It’s always been my dream to play quarterback, but it never really worked out.”
With senior Kris Knies and sophomore Gage Pearman competing for that spot, it’s unlikely to happen anyway.
“I just want to be in every single part of the game,” Coleman said. “I want to be that person who can help the team in every way. That’s just me. I feel like I can play all (positions), I just have to keep my mind on it. I’m up for the challenge.”
Portage head coach Jeromy Flowers expects Coleman to play wide receiver, slot back, running back and safety for sure.
He also plans on Coleman returning kicks and punts.
“He could punt for us, but he’s not,” Flowers said with a smile.
“I wanted to punt, but they won’t let me,” Coleman lamented. “My dad (assistant coach Earl Coleman) was a punter in high school. I want to punt and be better than him.”
Earl Coleman, a running back at Purdue (1988-92), taught his son how to play several positions.
While Rashaan is willing to play everywhere, he admits he’s his own worst critic.
“I always play like I have something to prove,” he said. “I always mange to find something I can do better and hold a grudge against myself. If I dropped a ball last week, or last month, I’ll still think about it every day. It’s all part of perfecting myself on everything. I’m a perfectionist in an imperfect game. I’m really unsatisfied with everything I do.”
As a freshman move-in from McCutcheon High School, Coleman burst on the scene for the Indians last year and was more than noticed — even with stars like Jake Dixon and Zach Huston on the field.
He caught 28 passes for 500 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 28 times for 103 yards and two scores.
“Rashaan is a very talented player,” Flowers said. “He’s a Division I athlete. Everybody knows about the Coleman kid. He brings a lot to the table. The funny thing is, people talk about his speed (4.6), but his agility and shiftiness is the best I’ve ever seen. The kid’s football I.Q. is amazing. He studies other teams’ formations and how other people play their positions. He could be a coach now.
Coleman has two main goals he’d like to reach.
“I want to have 1,500 yards receiving and rushing this year and make it to the state championship game,” he said. “I don’t think anybody thinks we’re going to do anything this season and I love that. Before Jake left, he told me this team was going to be on my shoulders. I’m up for the challenge.”
Coach
Jeromy Flowers
Record
At school: 5-5 (second year)
Overall: 19-35 (sixth season)
Last season
Lost 23-21 to Crown Point in
sectional opener
Key returnees
OL/DL Joey Little
OL Pat Doyle
WR/S Rashaan Coleman
WR/CB Alvin Best
LB Antonio Rodriguez
DE Dan Reese
SS Christian Colon
Key losses
RB Jake Dixon
QB Zach Huston
OL Nick Scott
DL Travis Pride
College prospects
WR/S Rashaan Coleman
OT/DT Joey Little
WR/CB Alvin Best
OT Patrick Doyle
DE Dan Reese
LB Antonio Rodriguez
LB Garrett Austin
Season outlook
The Indians will have a difficult time replacing Jake Dixon, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. Coach Jeromy Flowers, though, has an intriguing option in junior Rashaan Coleman, who is versatile enough to play at least a half dozen positions, including running back. He should get some carries there as will Blake, Hashim Simpson and Jason Roman.
A big key for the Indians is having a good run-pass balance. With only three returning starters on each side of the ball, this team is inexperienced, but talented. Players like Coleman, Alvin Best and Jeron Blake must become big playmakers for quarterbacks Kris Knies and Gage Pearman.
Postseason
Class 5A Sectional 1 (Chesterton, Crown Point, Lake Central, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Portage, Valparaiso)
Schedule
Aug. 19 at Mishawaka
Aug. 26 St. Rita (Ill.)
Sept. 2 at Lake Central
Sept. 9 at Merrillville
Sept. 16 Crown Point
Sept. 23 Chesterton
Sept. 30 at Michigan City
Oct. 7 Valparaiso
Oct. 14 at LaPorte
HISTORY LESSON
Season Record
2001 7-3, 5-2
2002 8-4, 4-3
2003 11-2, 6-1
2004 8-4, 4-3
2005 2-8, 1-6
2006 6-5, 4-3
2007 5-5, 3-4
2008 6-4, 4-3
2009 6-6, 3-4
2010 5-5, 4-3
Sectional titles: 1977, 1983,
1993-96, 1998, 2003
Regional titles: 1977, 1994
Semistate titles: 1994
State titles: 1977
Roster
No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.
1 Kyle Glover 5-9 160 11 WR/DB
2 Jeron Blake 5-9 165 11 RB
3 Devin Kludt 6-1 205 11 TE/DL
4 T.J. Skelton 5-11 170 10 WR
5 Gage Pearman 6-1 170 10 QB
6 T.J. Jackson 6-1 175 12 QB
7 Austin Garrett 5-10 230 12 LB
8 Kris Knies 5-11 170 12 QB
9 Mike Escoe 5-11 160 12 DB
10 Sam Schest 5-9 165 10 LB
11 Kevon Jones 6-1 215 12 DL
13 Carson Snyder 5-11 175 12 DB
14 Kevin Healy 5-8 155 10 RB
15 Di’Ondre Griffin 5-11 155 11 DB
16 Alex Sanchez 5-11 170 10 LB
17 Alvin Best 6-2 175 12 WR/DB
18 James Bryant 5-8 145 10 WR/DB
19 Othie Freeny 6-1 175 12 WR
20 Zac Vardaman 5-11 170 12 DB
21 Rashaan Coleman 5-10 185 11 WR/DB
22 Hashim Simpson 5-8 155 10 RB
24 Rodney Gray 5-11 155 11 DB
25 Jason Roman 5-9 165 12 RB
27 Brandon Campbell 5-7 160 11 DB
28 Cody Maldonado 5-8 160 10 WR/DB
29 Antonio Rodriguez 5-10 195 12 LB
30 Lorenzo Wells 5-9 140 10 DB
31 Nathan Johnson 5-11 165 10 K
34 Christian Colon 6-0 200 12 DB
35 Nate Swier 5-9 160 10 RB/LB
37 Kenyota Rollins 6-1 220 10 DL
38 Dan Reese 6-1 220 12 DL
40 Mike Delgado 5-7 140 10 DB
41 Shawn Gunnum 5-10 185 12 DL
42 Clayborn Williams 6-1 190 10 DL
43 George Espino 6-1 200 11 DL
44 Jordan Nieto 5-9 225 12 LB
45 Matt Albright 5-11 165 11 LB
47 Cameron Vaughn 6-2 200 10 TE/OL
48 Anthony Ortiz 5-10 180 11 LB
50 Aaron Luick 5-9 190 10 LB
51 Tom Duff 5-11 170 12 LB
57 Javari Harris 6-0 240 12 OL/DL
58 Justin Givens 6-0 200 11 OL
52 Patrick Doyle 6-1 250 12 OL
60 Travis Williams 6-0 215 10 OL
61 Mitchell Roach 5-10 200 10 OL
62 Zac Goolsby 6-1 230 11 DL
63 Kyle Sweeny 6-0 200 12 OL
64 Matt Urbanczyk 6-0 200 12 OL
66 Dilan Kettwig 5-11 250 10 DL
67 Jerath Hopkins 6-4 220 11 OL
68 Jonah Rodriguez 6-3 245 10 OL
69 Dan Luna 5-9 200 12 OL/DL
70 Andrew Burke 5-11 180 10 OL
71 Alex King 5-8 215 10 OL
72 Ryan Rogers 6-3 220 10 OL
73 Alec Coates 5-8 175 10 DL
76 Eric Gonzalez 5-10 250 11 OL
77 Ross Williams 6-2 265 11 OL
78 Aaron White 6-0 245 11 DL
79 Joey Little 6-2 280 12 OL
81 Zach Chandler 6-0 180 10 TE
83 Austin Edwards 6-1 170 12 DB
84 Justin Newcomb 6-0 160 10 WR
85 Joey Roman 5-9 155 10 WR/DB
87 Xvonte Jones 6-2 200 11 DL
89 Matt Meade 5-10 150 10 WR
91 Kenneth Howell 6-4 260 11 OL
94 Alberto Zepeda 6-0 200 10 OL
95 Scott Minor 6-3 230 12 OL
96 Chris Russell 6-0 185 10 DL
99 Eric Rizley 5-11 265 12 DL
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