Panther New Star:Jalen Coker Wows Coach Canales
The NASA-like ascension of Jalen Coker into relevancy for the Carolina Panthers has been an oasis in this wasteland of a 2024 season. The undrafted free agent burst onto the scene with an impressive performance in week five against the Chicago Bears, and has continued to see his role expand as he’s flashed the impressive skills that film heads saw in his Holy Cross tape last offseason. Panthers head coach Dave Canales lavished praise on the dazzling diamond in the rough during his Wednesday afternoon media availability.
Canales soliloquy on Coker was prompted by a local reporter asking what they saw from him in the pre-draft process, and why the other 31 franchises passed on selecting him with a draft pick. Here’s what the head coach had to say: “I would say small school. He ran a good 40 time. A lot of times when you come from a small school they look at the production, but they also look at all of the measurables. He’s got great size. He certainly didn’t run a 4.3, but he’s fast. He’s shown it.”
“He’s separating on NFL fields. That’s not easy to do. We have to look at the challenges against winning against NFL players outside, in the slot, and to do it with the consistency he has over the last couple of games is awesome…But what we saw from him is that when he gets the opportunities, he makes the most of them.”
