Underdog stories in the NFL are always intriguing to witness. Well, one of the prospects the Cincinnati Bengals have shown interest in fits that label.

Cole Coleman, who played defensive back at Elon, is starting to ring bells across the NFL after his impressive Pro Day at NC State, and the Bengals have shown interest.

I was fortunate enough to interview his agent Christian Addison who runs the Addison Sports & Entertainment talent agency earlier this week. Let's dive into my conversation with him.

Well, as far as guys in the NFL, who is Cole's biggest influence as a player?

"So I think that someone that he really likes to compare himself to was like a Mike Hilton, where, you know, a lot of times you know, people will see his pro day numbers and people rightfully so are like, 'Damn, like those numbers are unreal.' And then you know, the big knock on him is one, he's at a small school and then two, his height and I think his height comes up sometimes and he's like in that 5'9"-5'10" range and you know, a lot of people say, 'Hey, statistics show that that person can't play safety or that person can't play at the next level.' And I think for Cole, he was training for his pro day, watching the playoffs, and grew up watching teams go deep into the playoffs and it's like someone like Mike Hilton, where they're lining up and they've had success and they're playing all over the field like that. That's kind of how Cole views himself. He understands he's shorter than most people at his position, but like his athleticism and his drive, and his versatility really allows you to line him up anywhere over the field."

Yeah, man. Like I said, in today's NFL whether it's offense or defense you know, positional versatility is really big with a lot of teams. So, it's good that he's able to line up anywhere.

"Yeah, yeah, for sure. And it's something that he really likes. I think that a lot of players that I've worked with, they're like, 'Hey, I'll go in and do what a team needs me to but like this is how I see myself.' Cole is the opposite. He's like, 'Look, I know I have the ability to line up anywhere. So you throw me where you want me and I'll be ready to produce.'"

Alright, so outside of the Bengals, what other teams have shown a lot of interest in Cole as far as, you know, him possibly being a draft pick?

"I would say a third of the league. I don't know if the Bills and the Eagles were on there, but those would be the other ones in addition that have either requested information or spoken to the coaching staff or someone else visiting the actual Pro Day."

Okay, good. Like I said, I mean, it was interesting to me that a guy that, you know, it's kind of at a smaller school, but there were quite a bit of teams that were looking into him. So, that just speaks to how good he actually is on the field and what he did at Elon.

"I think that he caught people by surprise at the Pro Day. It's like when he ran his 40 I mean, people just like were immediately like, 'Wait, who is that kid?' And, you know, the feedback that I got was, scouts just said, 'He just forced us all to go back and have to rewatch every single bit of tape on him.' That was rewarding because that's what Cole and I said from the beginning is look, he's a small-town guy. We don't get as much exposure as the other people. We're coming to NC State to do our Pro Day because Elon would be a much smaller Pro Day, but we're betting on ourselves. We're betting that what we do today will force people to go watch the tape. And that's been our mantra since he started. Cole was like, 'I'm gonna have a Pro Day where I just need them to go back and watch the tape because when they watch my tape, they see how aggressive I am. They see how much I can break the ball, they see that I'm a playmaker.' And that's really what we wanted them to see all along."

So, like being that he's so versatile and he can move around and do so many things. What is it like to represent a player that's that versatile and how do you sell that to teams as he's trying to get into the NFL?

"So, I mean, sometimes how we really see him in the next level is obviously he is a safety but he has the ability to play nickel corner. So, it's like, that is really how we see him the versatility aspect. It's interesting because, again, someone like Cole who wasn't on radar and is shooting up like, as the draft gets closer, those are the times where teams are looking for those versatile players. It's like the end of the draft where they're like 'Alright, we want someone that we can kind of plug and play everywhere.' And it's fun to represent someone like that because you know that he has so many different facets to it. And I think sometimes people would dislike representing a player like that. And the reason being is because they might have a player that only wants to play safety or only wants to play corner and like they really want to like pursue that at the next level. But dude, Cole just loves football man, he loves football and he loves his teammates and he loves to grind. His dad played in the NFL on the Titans his name is Chris Coleman. So, it's like, he has him as a mentor, to look up to and really like follow in his footsteps. So, it's fun when you have someone who's about the character and the personality that Cole does, where he's willing to take on that versatility role. And then it's also easy to sell that too, because the tape shows itself and like who Cole is as a person and how he acts and how he carries himself does the exact same thing."

Now, speaking of his dad, has he been a big part of this process? Has he talked to him a lot? Has he helped guide them through? And has he given him any pointers and things that he needs to do when he gets into the league?

"So they're extraordinarily close. Cole is extraordinarily close with all his family. You know, it's super special say it's, you know, the news. The local Raleigh news actually was at the Pro Day because they caught on to the storyline of a former NFL player's son is now trying to follow in the same footsteps -or is following- in the same footsteps and it's a really cool story all around because his dad played on the Titans his entire career. So, Cole trained out Nashville for his pre-draft training. It's almost like he was trying to make his dreams come true in the city that his dad did make his dreams come true. And then it goes, you know, the rabbit hole just continues to go, you know, Chris, played at NC State, and he was a legend at NC State and still holds records. So, the fact that Cole ended up doing his Pro Day at NC State, it's yet another cog in the wheel that he just keeps following his dad's footsteps. So, the next step is Cole's dad, Chris, was drafted. So now like it really completes the story, man. If Cole pulls this off and gets drafted to a team, then boom he really did follow in his dad's footsteps."

Yeah, man. It's always harder, you know when you're the son of a guy that's already done it, there's a lot of pressure there and all that. So, does Cole feel that? Does he feel the pressure? Or is he just embracing the whole process?

"I think he's embracing the whole process. I mean, one thing that I love about Cole is the only pressure that he ever feels is from himself. He is going to dictate more responsibility and more effort from himself. He really does put the blinders on. Anything that anyone asks him, he's going to be asking way more of himself. So, no his family does not put any pressure on him to do stuff you know, they know who Cole is as a player and a person and they know he's gonna be in the league but they're not doing that everything is just all Cole putting in on himself. And, you know, it's something that I really respect about him – that he holds himself that accountable."

So, are there any specific teams that he wishes that he would have an opportunity to play for or is he just open to any team? And also, is there a team his dad wants him to go to? Maybe the Titans.

"Another thing that I really liked about Cole is that he got an offer from Elon in high school, small school of course. And they showed a ton of interest in him since the very beginning. And that's ultimately where he goes – he's a loyal guy. And if other teams tried to speak to him he's like, 'No, I'm all Elon because they showed interest in me and they believe in me. So, I believe in them and I'm gonna give them everything I have.' That's really how him and I partnered up, too. You know, agents were onto him and trying to get him even through the pre-draft process. And then, you know, he was like, 'No, you are the one that showed me confidence. You're the one that showed me you believed in me so I'm with you.' Him and I are brothers in that regard. And then that transpires to the NFL. He wants to play for the team that takes a chance on him and when they take a chance on him, he's gonna prove to them that it hits because he knows. I know. His family knows he's gonna be in the league for a long time. And his path might be like atypical, right, but he's gonna do it and he's not going to stop until he does it. So, I really think that's how he views it is that whatever team takes a chance on me, I'm ready to go. His dad and his mom just want him to be happy. So, they want him in the league. But I think if his dad had a choice, obviously he'd be strapping up that you know, that powder blue, navy, and red, right?"

That would certainly be something special if Cole gets to play for the Titans like he dad did. Regardless, Coleman's story is an amazing one.