Clarence Coleman (gridiron football)


Clarence Coleman is a former gridiron football wide receiver. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2003. He played college football at Ferris State University.
One of the most electrifying players in Ferris State University football history, Coleman was a three-time All-American and in 2001 finished fifth as a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II's best player. Coleman completed his four-year career ranking second all-time in all NCAA divisions with 323 receptions and tops in NCAA Division II. In his 2001 senior season, Coleman received first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Daktronics, Football Gazette, and D2Football.com along with being tabbed as the Football Gazette's Receiver of the Year for the second season in a row. He was named to the Football Gazette's All-America Honorable Mention Team as a sophomore in 1999 before attaining first-team laurels in 2000. Coleman earned All-America plaudits in 2000 from the Associated Press, D2Football.com, and Daktronics. A native of Miami, Fla., Coleman was a co-recipient of the 2001 GLIAC's Offensive Back of the Year Award. He garnered first-team All-GLIAC kudos his last three seasons and was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a freshman in 1998. A two-time team Most Valuable Player Award winner, Coleman is the program's current career record holder in receptions, receiving yards, touchdown catches, all-purpose yards, consecutive games with a reception, punt returns, and punt return yards. He captured the school single-season marks for receptions, receiving yardage, touchdown receptions, all-purpose yards, receiving yards by a freshman. Coleman went on to play professionally for the National Football League's Buffalo Bills along with the Grand Rapids Rampage and the BC Lions of the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League, respectively.