Miles Coleman and Drew Mestemaker Go All the Way Back, Underestimate That Connection at Your Own Risk

STILLWATER — Justin Bowick has the hype that comes with freakish physical traits. Wyatt Young has plenty of respect after his past dominance on the stat sheet and the football field last season. Chris Barnes has had buzz since he headlined the spring scrimmage in front of fans.

Added together, that might leave receiver Miles Coleman somewhat overlooked headed into fall camp. Which would be a mistake since his relationship with quarterback Drew Mestemaker goes all the way back to when the two were 5 years old.

“I can just give him a look, and we’ll be on the same page,” Coleman said. “We’ll ride it out from there. I think just that connection we have, always being on the same page. It’s a blessing to have with him.”

That connection made an impact last season as Coleman finished third in total targets, but second in targets per game. Coleman averaged 5.7, which put him just over a target behind Young’s team-leading pace of 6.9.

Those numbers were good enough to put him third in receptions (56) and receiving yards (550) at North Texas last season.

“We had the most explosive offense last year,” Coleman said. “And then Coach (Eric) Morris, he’s a small guy like me. You know, he likes to get small guys involved. That was a big reason (I came to OSU).”

Coleman said keeping the band together was important because of the team chemistry UNT had last season. The 5-foot-6, 158-pound receiver doesn’t view this as a continuation of North Texas, but he does think the current Cowboys can build something similar “to change the narrative on this team.”

“I think we can build here, I already see it, like the team chemistry here with like 90 new players,” Coleman said. “I already feel like we’ve been together for like three years already.”

Of course one of the strongest connections will undoubtedly be between Coleman and Mestemaker.

“I dreamed about playing with one of my boys, like from literally elementary school,” Coleman said. “So it’s really been a blessing to go out there and play with Drew each and every, like every single college snap to go out there with him and you know just to see his success, see my success, and just having a guy out there, like one of my boys out there. It’s just having fun. We’re playing football. It’s just, it’s awesome.”

Coleman racked up 3,000-plus receiving yards and 40 total touchdowns in high school while Mestemaker found himself starting at safety and punter since he was repeatedly unable to win the starting quarterback job for the same Vandegrift team.

“That just kind of shows Drew’s attitude and how he works,” Coleman said. “Like a bunch of coaches told him, like he couldn’t play, and then you know he tried to prove himself right, prove other people wrong, like he can do this. The talent was always there. He just needed a chance to go out there and show people what he could do.”

Although the two have been teammates throughout their high school and collegiate seasons, last year was the first time Mestemaker was the main attraction between the two of them. It’s safe to say Coleman has enjoyed watching his longtime friend finally get some well-deserved time in the spotlight this offseason.

“I mean, it’s been amazing,” Coleman said. “Obviously, freshman year, that bowl game, just to see him ball out, it was awesome. And then to see his progress over that, it’s just been on another level, and the sky’s the limit for him. We’ve been playing together since Pop Warner, and just to see his growth over the years has just been, it’s been amazing.”