BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
It might be prudent for Opelousas-area residents to watch with interest the first several hours of the NFL draft, which begins Thursday in Detroit at 7 pm local time.
Two athletes – Keon Coleman and Mark Barthelemy – who played high school football at Opelousas high schools, have the potential of continuing their careers playing for NFL teams.
Coleman, a former Opelousas Catholic standout who played wide receiver collegiately at Michigan State and Florida State, is being projected as either a late first-round or early second-round selection.
Barthelemy played at Opelousas High and later at Nicholls State, where he became one of the best blockers among Football Championship Series programs over the past several years.
The 2024 draft has a number of exceptional offensive tackles, but Barthelemy has the opportunity for picked selected in one of the later rounds on either Day 2 or Day 3, draft analysts indicate.
Examining Coleman
Coleman has received a lot of scrutiny since he declared for the draft following his third collegiate season in 2023.
Listed as 6-foot-3 ½ inches and 215 pounds, Coleman is rated by some going as high as the 21st player drafted and one of the top three wide receiver picks available in the draft.
A Bleachers Report Scouting Department analysis of Coleman’s potential lists him as high as the No. 21 pick after Coleman caught 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns during his single season at Florida State.
Other draft analysts have Coleman ranked as low as the 39th overall pick. Regardless, Coleman is expected as a consensus choice to be off the board quite early.
Coleman’s 4.61 second 40-yard time didn’t attract much applause from scouts who have attended his pre-draft workout. However Coleman has enough speed for his size, blocks exceptionally well and his 38-inch vertical leap makes him a possibility for a receiver who can win jump ball situations against shorter pass defenders, according to all draft predictions.
Looking At Barthelemy
Barthelemy worked out last month for the New Orleans Saints after he was chosen as a Second Team FCS All-America choice.
This season Barthelemy, 6-2 ½ and 325 pounds, was again selected to the All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana first teams.
In 2023 Barthelemy was chosen as the Southland Conference offensive lineman of the year.
BNB Football.com lists Barthelemy as the 49th best offensive tackle in a draft that includes a number of quality blockers that will undoubtedly be chosen among the first 20 selections.
During an interview with Crescent City Sports.com Barthelemy said he is just happy at this point to have a chance to play professional football and “to make Nicholls proud.”
