ESPN RISE

The Flowers High School (Springdale, Md.) football team is known for its stingy defense.

And Phil Coleman is a big contributor; a really big contributor.

The 6-foot-5, 380-pound junior played defensive tackle for a squad that held opponents to an average 8.6 points per game last year, which included five shutouts in a 10-2 season.

Coleman's size is starting to attract college recruiting interest.

Syracuse, Temple and Rhode Island recently have contacted Flowers coach Mike Mayo about this rising senior who will be a four-year varsity player. Coleman said much of the early interest has come from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (former I-AA) programs.

Coleman is the leader of the Flowers defensive line, which is a long way removed from being an intimidated 6-foot, 330-pound varsity freshman.

"I was intimidated and I was getting beat up," Coleman says about his freshman season. Mayo saw promise in Coleman and felt it was better for the youngster to stick with varsity instead of playing junior varsity ball. For two years, Coleman was a reserve, a role he does not regret.

"I didn't think I was at that level," he said of being a varsity player his freshman year. "But I got to see how it was. When I came to Flowers, they had a good squad. I got to work against really good players."

Coleman also learned it was not size alone that was going to earn him playing time.

"Last year, I changed my attitude," he said. "I had to push myself harder and get dedicated. To stay in the game, I needed to get better."

This past offseason, Coleman has spent more time running and working out in the weight room.

"I need to get stronger," he said.

If Coleman does, that could be bad news for Flowers' opponents.

Click HERE for a complete list of players profiled. Interested in having your profile on ESPNRISE/MDVarsity.com? Click here to fill out the Player Prospect Form and e-mail it to Mike Loveday. All information on the form will be verified through coaches. We will be profiling athletes throughout the winter and spring.

Sheldon Shealer is a senior editor for ESPNRISE.com and can be reached at SSHLR@erols.com