DeFonte Coleman

Position:
Wide Receiver
Height:
6-1
Weight:
210
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Kinston, N.C.
High School:
North Lenoir

Came back from a shoulder injury in 2001 to start the last eight games of the 2002 season at strong saftey • Is a hard hitter and has good athleticism.

2002 • Senior Season
Played in all 12 games and started nine, including the final eight of the season at strong safety • Finished fourth on the team with 79 tackles, including 40 solo tackles and 30 assists • Also had two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery • Had seven tackles, including four solo stops in Carolina’s win at Duke • Tallied six tackles against Florida State, including four solo • Made nine tackles (four solo) against Clemson • Had two hits against Maryland • Made four tackles against Wake Forest and one pass breakup • Had 12 tackles, including eight solo, in the loss at Virginia • Made nine tackles, includung one for a 1-yard loss in the loss to in-state rival NC State • Tallied five solo tackles, 11 total, against the Yellow Jackets • Made four tackles, including one solo, against Texas • Had one interception for 12 yards in the win over Syracuse • It was his first interception since the 2000 season • Made three solo tackles and had another assisted tackle in the game • Broke up one pass against the Orangemen • Recorded six tackles (five solo) in the loss to Miami (Ohio) • Combined with Chase Page to drop RedHawks running back Luke Clemens for a two-yard loss on fourth down • Later took down Clemens for a two-yard loss to force third-and-nine late on Miami’s final drive of the game.

2001 • Junior Season
Missed most of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery following the Texas game (third game of the season) • Made his only two tackles of the year against the Longhorns.

2000 • Sophomore Season
Named UNC’s Co-Most Improved Player on Defense • Began the year as the top reserve at safety, but moved into the starting lineup in the fourth game of the season vs. Marshall • Never relinquished the starting position and started the final eight games of the season • Emerged as one of the Tar Heels’ top tacklers, finishing the season third on the team with 78 hits, including 42 solo tackles and 36 assists • Broke up two passes and had one interception • Had a career-high 14 tackles on two occasions – vs. NC State and vs. Maryland • After moving in the starting lineup, he had at least nine tackles in five of eight games • Had 13 tackles vs. Clemson, 10 tackles at Pittsburgh, 14 tackles vs. Maryland and nine tackles at Duke • Made five tackles vs. Marshall in his first career start • Played 631 snaps, an average of 57.4 per game • Played an average of 75 snaps in the final six games of the season.

1999 • Freshman Season
Played in 10 games and made one reception for 11 yards • The 11-yard catch came on a fake punt and set up a field goal in UNC’s 10-6 win over NC State • Saw action on 184 snaps, including a high of 27 at Maryland • Saw action on special teams coverage • Made five tackles, including three primary stops • Recorded a safety against Houston when he tackled the Cougars’ punter in the end zone • Was redshirted in 1998.

North Lenoir High School
Played for Coach Wayne Floyd • Made 68 career receptions for 2,020 yards and 25 touchdowns • As a senior he hauled in a school-record 35 receptions for 550 yards and 10 touchdowns • Had a school-record 11 interceptions as a junior • Member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team • Earned all-conference honors two times and all-area honors on three occasions • Averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game in basketball • Three-time all-conference, all-area basketball player • Made the honor roll 11 times • D.A.R.E. Role Model.

Personal
Born DeFonte Trevell Coleman on Dec. 5, 1979 in Kinston, N.C. • Has one brother and one sister • Hobbies are reading, playing video games, singing and playing with kids • Does volunteer work at schools throughout Chapel Hill • This summer, he worked with mentally and physically disabled children • Has dreams of building a recreation center for kids one day • Favorite NFL team as a kid was the San Francisco 49ers • Would like to switch places for a day with Michael Jordan • Favorite former Carolina player is Octavus Barnes • Earliest football memory was being cut from his middle school team • Majoring in exercise and sports science.