Alonzo Coleman

Alonzo Coleman (born January 27, 1984) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Hampton University.

Alonzo Coleman
No. 30
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1984-01-27) January 27, 1984
Halifax, Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Halifax County (VA)
College:Hampton
Undrafted:2007
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Coleman attended Halifax County High School, where he finished as the school's all-time leading rusher with more than 3,500 yards in his high school career. He also recorded over 700 receiving yards and 600 return yards.

As a senior, he set the Halifax County High School single-season rushing record with over 1,500 yards and also set the school's single-game rushing record with 315 yards. He received first-team All-district, All-region and Western Valley District Co-Player of the Year honors. In track, he was a regional qualifier in the 100 metres, 4 × 100 metres relay and 300 metres competitions.[1]

In 2017, he was inducted into the South Boston-Halifax County Sports Hall of Fame.

College career

He accepted a football scholarship from Hampton University. As a true freshman, he was named the starter over senior Rian Thompson. He tallied 239 carries for 1,137, becoming the first freshman in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He also had a conference-best 18 touchdowns (third in school history).[2]

As a sophomore, he posted 225 carries for 1,133 yards and 13 touchdowns, becoming the first player in school history to start his career with back-to-back 1,000-plus rushing yard seasons. He had a career-high 209 yards with three touchdowns in the season opener against Jackson State University. He was limited with an ankle injury he suffered against Morgan State University. Along with Ardell Daniels, they were the only teammates in Division I-AA to each rush for more than 1,000 yards.[2]

As a junior, he had 204 carries for 1,326 yards (second in school history) and 19 touchdowns (second in school history). He set a school record five rushing touchdowns (30 points) and a season-high 172 rushing yards against Gardner–Webb University. Coleman (1,326) and Daniels (1,044) also became the third pair of teammates in Division I-AA history, to each rush for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.[3]

As a senior, although he was limited with a hip pointer injury, he registered 158 carries for 1,052 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the sixth player in Division I-AA history to rush for more than 1000 yards in each of his four seasons.[4] He broke the MEAC career rushing record against Winston-Salem State University.[5] He had 180 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns against Bethune–Cookman University.[6] He tallied 181 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns against Florida A&M University.[7]

Coleman finished his college career with 826 carries (conference and school record) for 4,648 yards (conference and school record), 62 rushing touchdowns (conference and school record), 64 total touchdowns (school record) and 24 100-yard rushing games. He also contributed to three straight MEAC championships (2004, 2005, 2006).

Professional career

Coleman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2007 NFL Draft on April 23.[8] He began training camp on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury. The injury limited his playing time and although he was waived on September 1, he was later signed to the practice squad.

He was cut on August 30, 2008, after being passed over on the depth chart by Tashard Choice and was later signed to the practice squad. On December 5, he was promoted to the active roster, because of injuries to both Marion Barber III and Felix Jones.[9] He made his NFL debut playing on special teams against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was declared inactive in the last 3 games of the season.

In 2009, a knee injury limited his playing time during training camp and he was waived injured on August 17.[10]

References
  1. "Focus, desire lead to gridiron success". The Gazette Virginian. April 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  2. "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: HAMPTON UNIVERSITY". Daily Press. August 30, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  3. "HAMPTON'S DANIELS QUICKLY SURPASSES 1,000 YARDS". Daily Press. November 20, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  4. "FOR PIRATES' COLEMAN, THE FINAL MATH IS 4 TIMES 1,000". Daily Press. November 26, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  5. "COLEMAN SETS RUSHING RECORD FOR HAMPTON". Daily Press. October 29, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  6. "COLEMAN RETURNS TO FORM AS HAMPTON MOVES WITHIN ONE GAME OF ITS THIRD STRAIGHT MEAC TITLE". Hampton University. November 3, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  7. "HAMPTON'S COLEMAN AND MCCASKILL NAMED MEAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Hampton University. November 13, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  8. "Dallas signs Austin, Coleman, Hannah". ESPN. April 23, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  9. "Cowboys activate RB Coleman off practice squad". ESN. December 5, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  10. "Cowboys' Williams, Newman back". ESPN. August 17, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
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