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 At one point three of the best receivers in NC State history played on the same team together in Torry Holt, Chris Coleman, and Koren Robinson.  All three of them rank in the Top-10 in numerous receiving records in the NC State record books.  Chris Coleman (1995-99) played three seasons lining up on the other side of the field from Torry Holt, who is arguably the greatest wide receiver in NC State history.  Because of who was on the other side of the field, Coleman’s greatness could go unnoticed at times, but his greatness is not unknown to the NC State record books.  Coleman ranks 10th in career receptions (122), 9th in receiving yards (1,909), and his 876 receiving yards in 1998 rank 8th for a single season.

Coleman has been a professional football player, a real estate broker, and a college football coach since his NC State days.  We caught up with Chris recently, and I think it would just be easier to let him tell us his own personal journey.

“I went undrafted in the 2000 draft, but was fortunate enough to make it on the team with the Tennessee Titans. I played on special teams and as a reserve wide receiver. Between those two seasons I played NFL Europe,” Coleman said. “After that second season I bounced around from Arena Football and the CFL. I would’ve liked a longer career. I thought I was good enough to play longer. One thing led to another, and you don’t always control all the variables. I’m definitely grateful to have had the opportunities I have had.”
After his professional football career came to an end in 2003, Coleman worked as a real estate broker for six years.  During that time he earned his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  But Chris Coleman wasn’t done with football yet.
He has spent the past 6 seasons coaching college football.  Coleman’s first three years coaching were with Lenoir-Rhyne University coaching the wider receivers, punt returners and kick returners, helping the Bears win two consecutive South Atlantic Conference championships his last two seasons there.  The past three seasons, Coleman has served as the wide receivers coach at Southern University, helping guide them to back-to-back division titles and two SWAC championship appearances.
Coleman said that being a NC State football player helped prepare him for all of his professional endeavors since leaving the Wolfpack.
“I think being a college football player prepares you for what you’re about to face in life. The things you to do manage your studies, your classes, your practice, your weight lifting,” Coleman said. “Juggling all the things that a college football player does prepares you for what your going to be doing in life. In whatever profession you are in, you have things that you are expected to accomplish each day.”
Over the past two weeks Coleman has been a part of an internship with the St. Louis Rams, where he has been reunited with his former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.
“I’m around some great coaches. Jeff Fisher is the coach there, and he was my coach when I was with the Titans,” said Coleman. “I’ve been observing how they do things, learning their system, studying their playbook, and I am working with the wide receivers, giving them pointers here and there.”

When he looks back at his time at NC State, the most valuable thing about his time there was the people that he was surrounded by.

“I was surrounded by amazing players and amazing people.  Playing with the likes of Torry Holt & Koren Robinson, and going against a great secondary with the likes of Lloyd Harrison, Jason Perry, Tony Scott, and Adrian Wilson,” said Coleman. “I am honored to have had the opportunity to grow up and develop with those guys. It’s great to be a part of a great fold of receivers over the history of NC State. Dating back to Nas Worthen and Haywood Jefferies, and Eddie Goines right before I arrived. Torry Holt started his era when I came in, and Koren Robinson and Jerricho Cotchery were younger than me. Just a lot of great receivers over time. I am very proud.”

Coleman’s Saturday’s have obviously been tied up over the past six years coaching college football, so he hasn’t been able to catch many Wolfpack games, but he said that he still checks the box score and watches the highlights of every game.

“My blood still runs Wolfpack RED.” Coleman said.

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Pack in the Pros

Former NC State All-American SS Trea Turner Named NL Player of the Week

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2 days ago

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April 24, 2024

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Former NC State All-American Shortstop Trea Turner was named the National League Player of the Week last week.

  • The 30-year-old hit .462 (12-for-26) with a home run, four RBI, five doubles, a walk, 10 runs scored, a stolen base and a .481 on-base percentage in six games last week.
  • The Florida native led the Majors in runs scored; tied for the NL lead in doubles and extra-base hits (6); ranked third in slugging (.769), OPS (1.250) and hits (12); and ranked fourth in total bases (20).
  • The two-time All-Star recorded four straight multi-hit games from Tuesday through Saturday, putting together three-hit games on Wednesday against Colorado and Thursday against Chicago (AL). It was the third time in his Phillies’ tenure and eighth time in his career that he had at least four-straight multi-hit games.
  • The 2019 World Series Champion has hits in 10 straight games since April 11th, batting .429 (18-for-42) with two homers, six RBI, six doubles, two walks, 12 runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.169 OPS during the stretch. He has reached in each of his last 13 games since April 8th, batting .434/.483/.660 over the stretch.
  • The North Carolina State product stole home on Sunday against the White Sox, marking his 40th consecutive stolen base since September 6, 2022 when he was a member of the Dodgers. His current streak surpassed Jimmy Rollins for the fourth-longest all-time and is now tied with Hall of Famer Tim Raines for the third-longest streak in Major League history. Next on the list is Ichiro Suzuki, who swiped 45 straight bases from April 29, 2006 through May 16, 2007, and Vince Coleman, who stole a Major League record 50 straight bases from September 18, 1988 through July 26, 1989. (MLB)

Turner was a 2-time All-American at NC State. In 2012, Turner was named 3rd Team All-American by NCBWA, and in 2013 he was named 2nd Team by Collegiate Baseball, and 3rd Team by NCBWA and Baseball America.

Turner’s 113 career stolen bases at NC State are the most in school history.

Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1st Round with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft.

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NC State’s Payton Wilson & Dylan McMahon’s 2024 Draft Projections

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2 days ago

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April 24, 2024

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The 2024 NFL Draft is 1 day away. Where does NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson and Center Dylan McMahon project to be drafted?

PFF

Payton Wilson – 1st Round – 29th Overall Pick – Indianapolis Colts

It’s a cliché to go “best athlete available” for the Colts, but Payton Wilson certainly ticked that box at the NFL scouting combine. Wilson was exceptional in his final season at NC State, earning grades above 75.0 in all three facets of defense, led by his 90.0 coverage grade with three interceptions and four forced incompletions.

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 214th Overall Pick – Cincinnati Bengals

Sporting News

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 38th Overall Pick – Tennessee Titans

Dylan McMahon – 5th Round – 175th Overall Pick – New Orleans Saints

Walter Football

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 42nd Overall Pick – Houston Texans

CBS Sports

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 43rd Overall Pick – Atlanta Falcons

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 182nd Overall Pick – Tennessee Titans

The Athletic 

Payton Wilson – 2nd Round – 56th Overall Pick – Dallas Cowboys

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 232nd Overall Pick – Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy Pros

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 66th Overall Pick – Arizona Cardinals

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 55th Overall Pick – Green Bay Packers

NFL.com

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 80th Overall Pick – Cincinnati Bengals

Dylan McMahon – 4th Round – 112th Overall Pick – Carolina Panthers

ESPN

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 81st Overall Pick – Seattle Seahawks

Wilson has an early-round grade based strictly on his game tape, but durability concerns could drop him to this range — or even later. He had 130 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions last season.

Dylan McMahon – 7th Round – 247th Overall Pick – Houston Texans

Pro Football Network

Payton Wilson – 3rd Round – 83rd Overall Pick – Los Angeles Rams

Dylan McMahon – 6th Round – 205th Overall Pick – Detroit Lions

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Former NC State G Terquavion Smith Earns a Spot on the 2023-23 NBA G-League All-Rookie Team

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April 19, 2024

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Former NC State Guard Terquavion Smith earned a spot on the 2023-24 NBA G-League All-Rookie Team.

Smith averaged 22.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game for the Delaware Blue Coats. What’s crazy, is that he only started in 3 of the 36 games he played in. With that being said, he averaged 30.7 minutes per game. Smith shot 35.6% from three.

As a 2-way player, Smith also played 16 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 3.3 points in 5.3 minutes per game. He shot 37.1% from three.

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NC State LB Payton Wilson Visited with the Steelers Yesterday

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April 17, 2024

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Former NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson had a Top-30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday. Wilson is the first Linebacker the Steelers have brought in.

Wilson has already had Top-30 visits with the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers.

PFF ranks Wilson as the #1 Linebacker in the 2024 Draft, and #26 on their Big Board.

1. LB PAYTON WILSON, NC STATE

PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 26

Wilson has the length, movement ability, IQ and tape of a first-round linebacker. What will likely keep him from being drafted on Day 1 is his injury history and age. If healthy, he can be a starting inside linebacker in any defense. (PFF)

Will someone take Wilson in the 1st round? Will he be a 2nd round pick? If he slips past that, that’s just stupid.

 

 

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