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A lot of things change from year to year, but when that year consists of a transfer from a junior college to a Pac-12 school, the adjustments are numerous.On Sept. 25, 2010, defensive end Davon Coleman was suiting up for Fort Scott Community College in Kansas.
Three hundred and sixty four days later, the ASU sophomore was making his first career Pac-12 start on Sept. 24, and lined up against the USC Trojans, one of college football’s most storied programs.
Despite limited playing time, Coleman is adjusting well to the Division-I level, and came away with the tackle of USC’s Marc Tyler on the Trojans’ first offensive snap.
“It’s a nice adjustment,” Coleman said. “The speed is a little faster, but I’m doing well.”
Although he has accumulated a modest 16 tackles in four games played, it is quickly becoming clear why the Sun Devils were very pleased to sign Coleman.
“(He’s) very athletic,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “He can run. He’s everything that we thought. We’re lucky we got him.”
As the Sun Devils and their fans begin to discover Coleman’s talents, his former coach has already shed light on his abilities.
“Davon is a freak athlete who is just as fast as he was strong,” Fort Scott coach Jeff Sims told thesundevils.com. “He can jam the tight end, rush the passer, he can cover … people don’t realize what a coup this was for Arizona State.”
Ideally, the Sun Devils would have liked to ease the 6-foot-3, 262 pounder into the defensive rotation, but sophomore Junior Onyeali’s torn meniscus has elevated Coleman to a starting role.
But it’s a role he certainly embraces.
“I’m feeling good, ready to step up to the plate and take care of my responsibilities,” Coleman said. “I’m ready. I’m always ready.”
Coleman may be the new guy on the defensive front, but he has the respect and support of his teammates — something that should only make his transition easier.
“It is just time for Davon to step up, and he definitely has,” junior defensive tackle Corey Adams said. “He’s getting a grip on the playbook and he is more locked in to what he has to do.”
While Coleman admits he still has some flaws in his game, most notably his “technique” and “execution,” his coaches have seen steady improvement since he joined the team.
“He is getting better every week,” defensive coordinator Craig Bray said. “He is a new guy, they all make mistakes. (He had) to learn a whole new system. (He) makes a few mental errors each game, (but) hopefully none of them hurt us.”
Erickson is also optimistic about the steps that his defensive end has taken.
“He’s improved,” Erickson said. “He can get better. He’s playing and learning. Hopefully he continues to get better.”
Coleman believes that his biggest obstacle is “learning all the play calls and working on (his) technique.”
However, once those are mastered there is nothing stopping Coleman from performing like the player who recorded 65 tackles, two and a half sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in eight junior college games just a year ago.
Reach the reporter at william.boor@asu.edu
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