Marcus Coleman

C, OT/OG · Wisconsin
The first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection carried on the tradition of stellar performers at the center position for the Badgers. He followed the likes of other postseason award winners like Donovan Raiola, Casey Rabach and Corey Raymer. Coleman was rated one of the top 75 players in the Midwest and one of the top five players in Minnesota by Rivals.com as a senior at Waysata High School. He was rated among top 55 players in the Midwest by Super Prep and captained the football team his senior year, when he earned first-team All-Conference, All-Metro and All-State honors. Coleman was also an All-Conference pick in football as a junior. He lettered in wrestling, track and football as a prep, going undefeated in wrestling as a sophomore and won the ninth grade state wrestling title as freshman. Coleman enrolled at Wisconsin in 2003, spending the year playing offensive guard on the scout team. He appeared in five games as a reserve center for the Badgers in 2004, shifting to right guard in 2005, where he backed up Joey Clinkscale for 12 games. He also started at left guard vs. Iowa that season. In 2006, Coleman took over center duties, where he garnered All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. He collected 52 knockdowns for an offense that generated 373.2 yards per game. He had seven touchdown-resulting blocks and was twice named the team's Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Penn State and Bowling Green). As a senior, the Wisconsin center earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference accolades. He started all 13 games, producing 71 knockdowns and nine touchdown-resulting blocks. The Badgers averaged 408.8 yards per game, including 200.8 yards on the ground.