Michael Coats Lands on Browns’ Practice Squad

Living the NFL roller coaster recently, former Mountaineer Michal Coats Jr. will start the season on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.

The Browns signed Coats to their practice squad on Thursday, completing his post training camp journey that first saw him make the team’s 53-man main roster and then get waived.

Coats’ performance at WVU’s Pro Day in March helped impress NFL scouts enough to earn a contract.

Listed at 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, Coats ran a 40 time of 4.39, blowing by everyone else who also ran. Coats was not invited to the NFL Combine, but his 40 time would’ve finished third for his position at the event.

He also posted a three-cone of 6.83 and a vertical jump of 36 inches.

After transferring from Nevada ahead of the 2025 season, Coats made 30 tackles, with 22 credited as solo tackles and recorded seven pass deflections.

Kelsie LeRose / WVSN

Throughout three seasons on the field between Nevada and West Virginia, Coats totaled 84 tackles, with 61 registered as solo tackles, deflected 20 passes and intercepted five. Before joining Nevada in 2023, Coats spent three seasons, including the COVID 2020 campaign, at the junior college level.

Find more coverage of Michael Coats at WV Sports Now.