Nick Coleman Adjusting Well To Life At Safety
His exit interview with head coach Brian Kelly spelled a position change for junior Nick Coleman.
So far, so good.
Coleman is Notre Dame’s newest safety, transitioning over from cornerback, where he had an up-and-down first two seasons.
“It was definitely something different. I wasn’t expecting to hear that,” Coleman said of his conversation with Kelly. “We came off a 4-8 season, we’re trying to do anything and look anywhere possible to come up from that. I accepted it with open arms.”
The approach has paid off.
Coleman evidently did enough during offseason workouts to begin the spring as the first-team free safety. Through eight practices, Coleman has remained with the first group, holding the top spot over sophomore Devin Studstill, junior Nicco Fertitta and freshman Isaiah Robertson.
“I wouldn’t put it that way, that [he’s the best] option [at safety],” Kelly said of the 6-0, 187-pound Coleman. “But we put somebody there to take first-team reps if we feel he can help us win a championship, and Nick Coleman has convinced us he’s there to stay.”
Kelly called Coleman a “dynamic” player and that his athleticism translates well from corner to safety. The Irish have several physical safeties in sophomore Jalen Elliott and senior Drue Tranquill, but Coleman brings a different element.
“Profiling somebody that has corner skills playing the safety position, you can imagine that he brings a different skill set to the position,” Kelly said.
After playing primarily on special teams as a freshman in 2015, Coleman won a starting spot last season. His 2016 campaign began poorly, struggling to defend Texas speedster John Burt in the opener. In the third quarter, Burt beat Coleman deep for a 72-yard touchdown in the Longhorns’ 50-47 double-overtime win over the Irish.
The Dayton, Ohio, native started two weeks later against Michigan State, but the damage was done.
According to Blue & Gold Illustrated’s unofficial tally, Coleman played 215 defensive snaps in 2016. Of those snaps, 174 came in the four games to begin the season under former defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. After VanGorder’s firing, the Irish began rotating in their talented class of freshman cornerbacks — Julian Love, Troy Pride Jr. and Donte Vaughn.
“That’s [all] part about handling adversity,” Coleman said. “You’re not going to be able to control your situation completely at certain times in your life. You control what you can control, and that’s what I tried to do for the rest of the season.
“You can’t get down on yourself because the team is also having a very tough year. You use it as motivation and as a learning tool.”
Coleman was a star running back at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, rushing for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. He played several different defensive positions, he said, dabbling at safety during his prep career.
That two-way athleticism has translated nicely to safety.
“Any time a corner switches to safety, he’s automatically got an advantage in terms of athletic ability,” Coleman said. “No knock on our safeties, but it’s definitely guarding a different bunch of guys.
“You’re [covering] tight ends now, big slots, so it’s easier to move around and work the entire field and not just your quarter. Knowing all the different run fits that a safety has to be responsible for [is the challenge].”
Coleman said he’s enjoyed the move to safety and was “all for” the move when the subject was broached with Kelly.
It helps that Coleman’s position coach is new Irish defensive coordinator Mike Elko, the architect of what is expected to be a re-energized, revamped unit.
After discussing the move with Kelly, Coleman began the task of getting up to speed on the safety position. Coleman said he called Elko in December after he was hired at Notre Dame to touch base.
The results are already showing.
On the first play of the team portion of practice March 31, Coleman made a diving play on a pass intended for junior Equanimeous St. Brown. Coleman had to range across the field, showing off the speed and agility that Kelly and his staff hope translates to games this fall.
“The more comfortable you get, the more confident you get,” Coleman said of his move. “The more reps you get, all that comes together. I definitely feel a lot more confident in my play, my decision-making, and just overall.”
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