On BJ Coleman

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

VN GURU
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#1
BJ came home to Chattanooga on thursday to begin the Vols' short Christmas break.

The TFP's Stephen Hargis spoke with the up and coming QB about his impressions of his progress, and the departure of his mentor.

We don't usually get to hear from the Frosh class.
This guy is a winner.

As part of one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, B.J. Coleman watched nine true freshman classmates make key contributions on the field for the University of Tennessee this fall. All the while, the former McCallie School quarterback continued watching more video than Ebert and Roeper combined, showing glimpses of a promising future in practice and generally soaking up every ounce of atmosphere from the sideline.

“I’ve been blessed,” said Coleman, who came home Thursday for a short holiday break. He will rejoin the Volunteers on Christmas Day to continue preparations for the Outback Bowl.

“Coach (Phillip) Fulmer did a wonderful job this year with this team and allowing me to get used to the SEC atmosphere,” Coleman said. “I was there for every game and saw just how intense and fast the game is at Alabama, Florida and even Cal. The coaches did an awesome job preparing me with the travel and furthering my understanding of the offense and what to expect.

“Right now I just want to keep learning the offense, because I’ve got a really good opportunity in front of me this spring.”

Whatever opportunities Coleman has on the horizon will come from a new offensive coordinator, position coach and likely several other unfamiliar coaches. Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe accepted an offer to become the head coach at Duke and has not denied reports that he will take Vols offensive assistants Kurt Roper and Matt Luke with him. Also, receivers coach Trooper Taylor took an offer to become a co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.

That much uncertainty could have a drastic affect on recruiting and has led some current players to hint they may look to transfer. Despite the fact that it was Cutcliffe who had the biggest influence on his decision to come to UT, Coleman made it very clear that he intends to be competing with Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens this spring for the starting job.

“I’m not too worried about all that,” Coleman said. “I feel good about where I am. Coach Cut and I have a great relationship, but I can’t really comment on that, other than to say he is a great coach and I wish him well.

“Any top competitor wants to be out there, and what I did this first year was take full advantage of the resources I had, like the film room and talking with Erik Ainge. Those are the things I had to do this year to prepare myself.”

Although Eric Berry, Gerald Jones, Dennis Rogan and Lennon Creer made more significant contributions this season, coaches have consistently praised Coleman’s ability. Coach Taylor singled out the young quarterback several weeks ago as the leader of the freshman class.

Coleman’s magnetic personality draws people to him and has always made teammates believe he’s capable of turning any negative situation into a positive. Earlier this fall the FCA chose him to speak about leadership to more than 500 people at a Knoxville banquet. In the weeks following the Outback Bowl, Coleman will get to show those traits — leading teammates from the trappings of an unsure winter into a positive spring.

“The main thing I did this year was just be myself,” Coleman said. “I was surrounded in my class with guys who all have great talent and are already getting to contribute. We’re going to be just fine here. I have faith in Coach Fulmer and the staff.

“And we’ve got the talent coming up to compete for SEC championship and even the big boy. We just have to keep working and getting better, because the good Lord has a plan, and it will all fall into place.”
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#2
#2
I look forward to seeing this young man progress into a great QB for us.

On a completely non-serious note: Somebody on our recruiting staff has a sense of humor when it comes to QBs. From Cooter to BJ.
 
#4
#4
allvol123 said:
I have nothing to base it on, but I think this guy ends up as the starter next year.
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I think Crompton starts the opener, but BJ will be the featured QB by the FL game....Doug Matthews said he is the best thing since Peyton...
 
#5
#5
VolfanMike said:
I think Crompton starts the opener, but BJ will be the featured QB by the FL game....Doug Matthews said he is the best thing since Peyton...
Click to expand...

Ha! We've been listening to the same sports talk radio. I heard Doug harping on him as well.
 
#6
#6
VolfanMike said:
I think Crompton starts the opener, but BJ will be the featured QB by the FL game....Doug Matthews said he is the best thing since Peyton...
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The best thing since Peyton and he has yet to step foot on the field during a game? Someone must put a lot of stock into practice and film-watching.
 
#7
#7
kkep48 said:
The best thing since Peyton and he has yet to step foot on the field during a game? Someone must put a lot of stock into practice and film-watching.
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Doug Matthews was a former UT Coach.....What I think he meant by that was; his mechanics, leadership, work ethic, and dedication could easily make him a great UT QB....We will find out next year...
 
#10
#10
good stuff, i look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
 
#11
#11
"The Lord has a Plan".....I love hearing that. I wasnt his biggest fan when he committed, but I'll eat my crow and climb on board the bandwagon.
 
#12
#12
Seems, if nothing else, that he at least is a very level-headed young man.

I also think with all the staff changes, next year's depth chart is pretty much wide open, and we'll benefit by having an entire offensive team that has to battle for their spots!
 
#13
#13
I think a lot of how well Crompton succeeds is who we bring in as the offensive coordinator. If he uses Crompton wisely, he should be fine. Crompton and Coleman are two different kinds of QBs and if Jonathan is going to be successful, he needs to be utilized appropriately.
 
#14
#14
NationofVols said:
I think a lot of how well Crompton succeeds is who we bring in as the offensive coordinator. If he uses Crompton wisely, he should be fine. Crompton and Coleman are two different kinds of QBs and if Jonathan is going to be successful, he needs to be utilized appropriately.
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Actually if you watch tape of Coleman, he seems to want to hit the other team in the mouth just as much as Crompton. He may not be that type of QB in college, but he was in HS.
 
#15
#15
Although I think BJ will be the starter early in the season as I said earlier....I also believe that it sucks to be JC right now......Highly rated, highly touted qb coming out of HS and he is on the verge of becoming a huge bust.....
 
#17
#17
When people asked me about BJ Coleman, I told them he would start the second half of his Sophmore season. He's one of the most stable young men I have ever met in my life. He also has a handshake that can break bones. Reading what he said, he made his commitment to Tennessee and not to Cutcliffe. Good move on his part. If he starts this year I will be surprised only because of how much he has grown in a year not by talent.
 
#19
#19
BigFatCat999 said:
When people asked me about BJ Coleman, I told them he would start the second half of his Sophmore season. He's one of the most stable young men I have ever met in my life. He also has a handshake that can break bones. Reading what he said, he made his commitment to Tennessee and not to Cutcliffe. Good move on his part. If he starts this year I will be surprised only because of how much he has grown in a year not by talent.
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The thing is he really hasn't grown like you say. He was this same man before his senior season at McCallie. I heard him on the local sport talk show in Chattanooga and I was amazed with his charisma and leadership qualities. If the guy is there physically he will be our QB, because his study habits and intangibles are off the chart.
 
#20
#20
I was thinking physically not mentally. NFL level quarterbacks wish they had the mindset of BJ. It's just the body type that BJ needs to fill in.
 
#21
#21
VolfanMike said:
I think Crompton starts the opener, but BJ will be the featured QB by the FL game....Doug Matthews said he is the best thing since Peyton...
Click to expand...

I hope Doug isn't one of the many, many guys that also said that about Erik Ainge after 2004.
 
#22
#22
I dont see why everyone is talking about BJ Coleman being the next QB. I suppose its because he is from East TN and everyone saw how good he was in HS but where's the love for Crompton. We saw him last year against LSU and at Arkansas as a Redshirt Freshman. Combined for 357 passing yards 4tds/2ints ... Not too bad against the west's top two in 06. It was known that with the short quick passes we made down the field this year and a senior qb in Ainge Crompton wasnt going to play much this year.
Why dont yall think Crompton can succeed next year as the starting QB?
 
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