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NFL 2012: a banner year for rookie quarterbacks

Encouraged by the success of Carolina’s Cam Newton and Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton last season, five teams hand the offensive controls to five players fresh out of the college ranks.

10. B.J. Coleman, Green Bay Packers

Mike Roemer/AP
With a young fan running along side him Green Bay Packers quarterback B.J. Coleman (9) rides a bike before NFL football training camp, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis.

  • By Ross Atkin Staff

Drafted: #242 overall (in seventh round)

Pro status: on practice squad (equivalent to 3rd string)

College: Tennessee - Chattanooga

6 ft. 3 in., 231 lbs.

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.

QB rating in the preseason: 29.2

Coleman is the only player selected in last spring’s draft who didn’t play at the major-college level. He did start out there, spending two years at the University of Tennessee, before transferring to Tennessee-Chattanooga in his hometown, where he spent three years as a starter. During his three years as a starter there, he helped turn the program around.  With the Packers, who only list two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Graham Harrell, on their depth chart, Coleman is designated a practice squad player. Even though he could have waited to see if another team picked him up after being cut from the main Green Bay roster, Coleman says he’s happy to have signed as a Packer “practice” player, which means he will make $5,700, far less than anyone on the official 43-man roster. 

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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