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Sammie Coates, a former Auburn receiver who helped the Tigers reach the 2014 BCS Championship game, didn’t have the best rookie season in the NFL.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Coates caught only one pass for 11 yards in his first NFL campaign. However, he managed to surpass both regular-season totals in his one playoff appearance, catching two passes for 61 yards in a divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos.
Coates recently admitted to al.com that he wasn’t in the best shape last season, which may have led to his lack of playing time.
But, entering his sophomore NFL season, Coates is looking to flip the script and become a bigger part of the Steelers’ high-octane passing attack. He told Mark Inabinett of al.com that he’s feeling much faster entering the 2016 season:
“I feel great,” Coates said. “I took care of my body this offseason so I could come in in the best physical shape I could come in possible.”
Though the Steelers’ top target will still be All-Pro Antonio Brown, Coates has a chance to work his way into more offensive snaps thanks to the season-long suspension of No. 2 receiver Martavis Bryant.
If Coates can show flashes of the brilliance he displayed at Auburn, he should compete with Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey for Ben Roethlisberger’s attention as the Steelers make another playoff push in 2016.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
