Miami’s Future Star Quarterback: Dereon Coleman
Dereon Coleman, a quarterback committed to Miami, has always been a showstopper.
This past weekend in South Florida, the Orlando (Fla.) Jones standout led his team, Defcon United, to victory at the Battle 7v7 South Florida tournament. It’s one of the toughest and most star-packed competitions around. But it was Coleman who took center stage, earning On3’s Top Performer title.
“Dereon Coleman came into the playoffs on day two of Battle Miami with some serious juice after a strong day one performance,” On3 national analyst Cody Bellaire said. “And not only did he deliver, but he walked out a champion.”
His arm was on fire, lighting up the scoreboard with throws that other quarterbacks only dream about. Even the windy conditions couldn’t slow him down.
At one point, Coleman was considering Oklahoma. He almost committed there. But after visiting Miami again and feeling the love from head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, he changed his mind. Now, it seems like Miami’s got a future leader for their offense.
“His arm talent is special and he did things with the football that defenses simply couldn’t stop all weekend long,” Bellaire added. “He was the most dominant player here at Battle Miami, regardless of position.”
Coleman is no stranger to success. Despite being just 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, he’s got an electric arm and isn’t afraid of the spotlight. As a sophomore, he led Jones High to the state semifinals, throwing for 2,236 yards and 16 touchdowns.
As a junior, he upped his game, completing 73% of his passes for 3,412 yards and 28 touchdowns. His team went 14-1, narrowly missing out on the state title.
“Fantastic season,” Coleman said. “We didn’t come out with what we wanted. We did everything we could. Balled out and love my brothers for playing with me. Everyone was 10 toes down.”
That loss in the title game still stings, but Coleman is determined to make his senior season unforgettable. He’s working hard with his teammates, coaches, and trainer Baylin Trujillo, aiming to win his last high school game this fall.
“I want to do better than what I did before,” Coleman said. “Actually win a state championship. Get bigger in the weight room. Get better.”
Coleman’s development has been impressive. He’s getting smarter about reading defenses and can throw all over the field.
Miami’s quarterback room is looking strong. They’ve brought in Carson Beck, a former Georgia QB, to take over from Heisman Finalist Cam Ward. There’s also Emory Williams and newcomer Luke Nickel, who’s fresh off winning two state titles in Georgia.
Coleman sees a chance to compete right away after Beck. He thinks his style is similar to Ward’s, and Dawson agrees.
“They finally got the quarterback that could run their offense and be the playmaker they needed,” Coleman said. “(Dawson) explained it the same way he explained it to Cam.”
As Coleman continues to grow physically, his best football is still ahead of him. He’s a pass-first QB who can also make plays with his legs, having racked up 702 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in the last two seasons. If you’re a Hurricane fan, watching his journey will be pretty exciting.
Coleman is ready to represent Miami at big events all off-season.
“I’m 1,000 percent locked in,” Coleman stated. “If you’re committed, you’re going to stay committed.”
