Why you should be excited about Sammie Coates:
- He's a physical specimen by wide receiver standards at 6-1 and 212 pounds and had the combine measurables to prove it: 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, 23 reps bench pressing 225 pounds, a 41-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump, among others.
- He finished his college career with 82 receptions for 1,757 yards and 13 touchdowns, including 14 catches of 30-plus yards in 2013.
- He caught five passes for a school-record 206 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama in 2014 (Auburn games don't get any bigger than the ones against Alabama).
- His tape got Steelers wide receivers coach Richard Mann's attention, especially on "those 50-50 balls, those contested balls. More times than not he came down with it. I'm talking about deep, contested catches, and that was impressive to me."
- He's a deep threat. "He can take the top off the coverage," Mann said. "His most redeeming quality is tracking the ball down the field."
- Although he battled drops and inconsistency at times he never appear outwardly down about it. "He doesn't have bad body language," Mann said. "He's not afraid."
- He's tough enough to get yards after the catch and to contribute in the running game. "He'll block, he'll dig out safeties," Mann said. "He'll put his pads down."
- He's impressive physically and has been productive on the field but is far from a finished product. "We'll put him in spots where he can excel," Mann maintained. "I think the sky's the limit for him."
View photos of Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 3rd Round Draft Pick, wide receiver Sammie Coates.
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