Russell: Brandon Coleman was born in the 757, and ready to rep the 202 and surrounding

A big day for Rooster and Lynnell, who, on a Windbag Wednesday, welcomed in two Commanders draft picks – and the first one, Brandon Coleman, called in at 2:39 for his 2:40 segment, not wanting to be late to the jump.

The Army brat is used to moving around and being fluid, but he couldn’t let down all his folks from where he was born in Virginia for his first appearance!

“I moved around a lot and I think that had a lot to do with just how I was able to adapt to those different situations, especially from JuCo to a Power 5 environment, different level, different atmosphere,” Coleman said.
“My dad was like a big cornerstone, helping really show me what it means to be disciplined, what it means to be on time, and what it really means to work hard and put effort in. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon, which I had to learn throughout my career too with injuries and setbacks, even being at a high level that I was just because I started football late. A lot of different things helped me kinda get my identity and figure out how I was supposed to go through this process.”

That ‘late’ was junior year of high school, which is why Coleman started at the junior college level – but it was that work ethic that allowed him to go from JuCo to Power 5 to Day 2 pick in a handful of years.

“JuCo can have ups and downs, more lows than highs at times, but that was probably one of the the biggest influences on who I am as a player, especially still learning the game,” Coleman said. “Being able to kind of build me up in my mentality, especially where a lot of tough things happen – like you said, some days you try to figure out where you're eat, I ate a bunch of those 50 cent Burger King nuggets for dinner, but you make it work. You got to figure out how you're gonna get it in practice with all this stuff, but in the end, you're still a brotherhood no matter where you play at, and those guys really helped me learn the way the way to play the game and developed me into that tough guy mentality you can see on tape. So I really appreciate that time, and then being able to take that to a Power 5 conference where a lot of kids don't appreciate what they got, coming from JuCo you think you're in a five-star resort; it just helps you kind of understand a different perspective of what it's like to be at that type of school and play at that level.”

Rooster mentioned that a TCU coach confided in him that Coleman is ‘the greatest athlete I’ve ever been around’ on the O-line, and that Brandon is ‘mean and nasty on the field in a good way.’ Truth?

“Yeah, I think most of that stuff really comes from my competitiveness. I think I'm the most competitive guy in the draft and I think that's where that comes from,” Coleman said. “I can be your best friend off the field and we can go through like various things together, but if we're competing against each other, I don't know you and I don't like you, and I'm gonna try to win whatever rep I can. Afterwards we can like chop it up and go to eat dinner and laugh about everything, but during those times it's, it's do or die.”

Coleman also worked with a great personal coach in Duke Manyweather, and that experience added to everything else has him feeling like he’s ready for DC.

“That really was a great time and a blessing, getting to work with him and 18 different guys that came from high-level programs that have different views of the game, different aspects that they're able to help me with,” Coleman said. “And then Duke himself, he's able to point out a few different things that I was able to apply at the Senior Bowl that would really just help me take my game to the next level and be more efficient. So I'm really thankful to him to be able to prepare me, not just for that, but also the mental aspect of what comes with this and what to watch out for.”

Good for the Senior Bowl and the pre-draft process, where he tried to show he was still the guy he was before a mid-season injury.

“It was really important for me, especially having the injury during the season, so I wasn’t able to play my best and show I was still able to do what I was able to do in 2022,” Coleman said. “The first couple of practices I was able to apply a bunch of stuff I learned throughout that pre-draft process with Duke, and then just be able to compete, it had been like two months at that point, so it was great to be out there and play football, be around a bunch of guys again.”

He’s also studied some greats in Trent Williams, Jason Kelce, and Lane Johnson, to name a few…so, does all that mean Coleman thinks he has a chance to be the starting LT in DC?

“With that being the opening, I wouldn't be surprised if they would try me at tackle going into mini-camp, but wherever they would need me, I'd be excited just to be on the field, be able to compete with them and compete for a spot,” Coleman said. “I'm really excited just to be there and play wherever they need me at. I started off my career in high school playing tackle, and then my coaches at TCU were the ones who switched me to guard in ’21.
I played mostly left tackle in my career, so I see myself more as a tackle, but try to just work that guard in there to have that flexibility and feel comfortable there too as well.”

No matter where he plays though, he’s in a division with some premier pass rushers, so nothing will come easy.

“I'm just excited to be able to go against those guys. It will definitely be a tough battle and a, a great battle, and I'm excited to study those guys, figure out their moves, and then go out there and compete and battle all game,” Coleman said. “I think my power, athleticism, and quickness, I'm very successful with that in anything I do, so just being able to be an athlete will help me. And, I'm excited to be here, basically being back home; I was born in Newport News and my whole family's here, so being able to represent a team in Washington with that history, I'm excited to be here.”