Sammie Coates and Nick Marshall are teammates, again.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Coates in the off-season, the former NFL receiver was on the team’s negotiation list. The six-foot-one, 215-pound Coates spent parts of five years in the NFL. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round, 87th overall, during the 2015 NFL Draft.
Coates impressed scouts at the 2015 NFL Combine with a 4.43 laser-timed 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump, and pressed 225 pounds 23 times on the bench.
The Leroy, Alabama native played 44 NFL games split between the Steelers, Browns and Texans, making 29 receptions for 528 yards (18.2 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He earned over $2.8 million playing in the NFL. Most recently, Coates played four games for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks where he made six receptions for 61 yards.
While in the NCAA, Coates played 37 games for Auburn University. He made 82 career receptions for 1,757 yards with a 21.4 yards per reception average while also collecting 13 touchdowns.
Coates suited up with Nick Marshall for their final two collegiate seasons. Marshall was the starting quarterback and led the Tigers to the BCS National Championship Game. 12-1 Auburn took on 13-0 Florida State University and Jameis Winston in the title tilt. The Seminoles won a close contest 34-31.
Coates rejoins Marshall as teammates with the Riders and could provide quarterback Cody Fajardo with an ultra-athletic weapon on offence.
