West Virginia cornerback Michael Coats Jr. (3) during an NCAA collage football game on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

MORGANTOWN — Corner Michael Coats Jr. lined up on the line for the 40-yard dash at West Virginia football’s Pro Day. He set his feet in the down start, raised his hand and was off. Coats ran through the cones past NFL scouts and representatives. All of them had stopwatches and clipboards, taking notes.

If the scouts looked down, they might’ve been impressed to see Coats run the 40 in 4.39 officially. That’s fast. The 4.39 put him in the top 25 of overall times if Coats competed at the NFL Combine. Out of the corners at the combine, Coats would’ve been the third fastest. At safety, he’d be fifth. It was definitely a solid result.

Coats repped 14 of 225 on the bench, had a 36″ vertical, 4.44 20-shuttle, 6.83 cone drill and a 10’8″ broad jump. He also did some defensive back drills throughout the day.

Coats, who had sweat dripping from his face, was pleased with his performance.

“Through the whole thing, I’ve been solid,” Coats said. “Slipping, not touching grass, probably the only thing I wished I could have back, 5-10-5.”

Coats was a bright spot for the Mountaineers in 2025, and it was hard to find positives out of the 4-8 season and everything that surrounded Rich Rodriguez’s first year.

Throughout the season, the Nevada transfer was one of the higher-rated cover corners in college football. When Coats was thrown to, he broke up seven passes, forced a fumble, had 30 tackles and two tackles for loss.

However, Coats, like every other Mountaineer, didn’t receive an invite to the NFL Combine. The only way Coats could show off his skills and blazing 4.39 40-yard dash was at the Pro Day. He needed to put on a show at the Pro Day, too, because he didn’t feel like he did enough during the season, which could’ve played a role in not receiving a combine invite.

“I left a lot of plays out there,” Coats said. “A lot of dropped interceptions. It was an OK year. Coming from the previous year, with four picks to none. It was OK, but it wasn’t enough.”

The only downside is that Coats is a bit on the smaller side. He measured at 5-foot-9, 184 pounds. The average NFL defensive back is around six feet. Coats knows his size makes him have to be perfect in everything he does because he can’t fall back on his size to make up for a mistake. That makes Coats’ technique even more important, which is why he was one of the higher-rated corners.

Coats has skills that translate to the next level. He’s one of the better man coverage corners. Man coverage numbers have dropped in recent years because it’s harder to find defensive backs who can man up against the increasingly talented wide receivers in the league.

Coats thinks that’s a big selling point for NFL teams.

“I feel like it translates well,” Coats said. “I’m quick, patient. Speed but disciplined. I feel most definitely I’m one of the top corners press man.”

As of just after his workout, Coats hadn’t heard from any NFL teams. But there were 15 NFL teams in attendance for WVU’s Pro Day. After seeing his speed and technique up close, Coats might get some looks, and is probably one of the few Mountaineers from the group of 26 players who have a chance at the next level.

Coats wants to play at the next level and will do whatever is necessary to do so. He would play safety, and one of his strengths is that he can change positions if needed.

“I’m a ball player,” Coats said. “Any position you need.”