NFL Scouting Combine Spotlight: Jalen Coker

This week the annual NFL Scouting Combine is taking place in Indianapolis. A total of 319 draft prospects were invited. The list includes eight prospects from New England schools, who will be featured on Patriots Football Now during the week. The first New England prospect featured was Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie. Up next is Holy Cross wide receiver Jalen Coker.

The Sterling, Va. native continues to see his stock rise. Despite coming from an FBS program, Coker was invited to participate in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and is now in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.

Holy Cross Crusader

Jalen Coker has improved every season for Holy Cross. After appearing in only three games as a freshman, he earned All-Patriot League honors his sophomore season. Coker earned first-time honors as a junior and by his senior season, he was in the national spotlight.

Coker amassed 59 receptions for 1,040 yards in 2023. He set the Crusaders single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions, which also led the nation. His performance earned Coker first-team All-American honors. He was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy. Coker was the only wide receiver to finish in the top ten of voting.

WHAT A CATCH BY JALEN COKER @HCrossFB pic.twitter.com/CH2NnBcEGP

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) January 13, 2024

Jalen Coker finished his Holy Cross career as the school’s career leader in touchdown receptions (31) and receiving yards (2,715). He is joined at the combine by teammate C.J. Hanson, an offensive guard.

NFL Draft

As much as Coker improved during his time in Worcester, Mass. his stock has risen even greater since the end of the season. His Hula Bowl performance earned him an invite to the Shrine Bowl. Coker turned heads at the Shrine Bowl, leading to a combine invite. Now at the NFL Scouting Combine, Coker is on the verge of seeing his NFL dreams come true.

Jalen Coker stands 6-foot-3 and is listed at 213 pounds. That gives him “NFL size” already. He shows excellent hands, a trait that is often underappreciated in wide receiver candidates. Scouts will watch to see what type of 40-yard dash time Coker puts up. He is currently ranked as a Day 3 prospect, though with his trajectory of late that could continue to improve.

What type of player will an NFL franchise be getting in Jalen Coker? He told SI Now:

“You are getting a hard worker that is always going to be dedicated to his craft. A guy that will play special teams and will block, the things that nobody else wants to do. Whenever I get my opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it. I’m going to be a guy that is hard to keep off of the field.”

Sounds like Jalen Coker is the type of player any NFL franchise will be lucky to add.