'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 6

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Me, too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Spartan football player was the best ever to wear each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at MSU? And what kind of impact did he have on the program? 

Find the full 'Who wore it best' series here.

No. 6 – Mill Coleman

Wide receiver/ QB/ RB/ Returner, 1991-94, Farmington Hills.

Résumé

1991: 16 receptions, 156 yards, 9.8 yards per catch, 1 touchdown; 17 rushing attempts, 76 yards, 4.5 average; 3 kick returns, 21 yards, 7.0 average; 12 punt returns, 179 yards, 14.9 average; 2-4 passing, 28 yards     

1992: 37 receptions, 586 yards, 15.8 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns; 23 rushing attempts, 62 yards, 2.7 average, 2 touchdowns; 9 kick returns, 114 yards, 12.7 average; 7 punt returns, 164 yards, 23.4 average; 14-29 passing, 147 yards, 2 interceptions   

1993: 48 receptions, 671 yards, 14.0 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns; 2 rushing attempts, -1 yards, -0.5 average, 1 touchdown; 17 kick returns, 151 yards, 8.9 average; 4 punt returns, 71 yards, 17.8 average

1994: 25 receptions, 400 yards, 16.0 yards per catch, 1 touchdown; 4 rushing attempts, 40 yards, 10.0 average, 1 touchdown; 10 punt returns, 125 yards, 12.5 average

Total: 126 receptions, 1,813 yards, 14.4 average, 8 touchdowns; 46 rushing attempts, 177 yards, 3.8 average, 4 touchdowns; 39 kick returns, 411 yards, 10.5 average; 23 punt returns, 414 yards, 18.0 average; 16-34 passing, 175 yards, 2 interceptions

Why Coleman?

Mill Coleman was a Swiss Army knife during his four-year stint at Michigan State, playing a little quarterback, some wide receiver, returning kicks and even lining up in the offensive backfield.

That will earn you a nickname like “Mill the Thrill.”

The Farmington Hills product saw his most success at receiver, where he snagged 126 passes for 1,813 yards and four touchdowns. His most productive season came in 1993, catching 48 passes for 671 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown and led the Spartans with an average of 17.8 yards per punt return. MSU finished 6-6 that season. It was the only time in Coleman’s college career that the Spartans didn’t finish with a losing record. All of 1994’s wins were vacated because of NCAA sanctions against the program.

Known for his breakaway speed and Velcro hands, Coleman is ranked No. 14 in career receiving yards at MSU. Not too shabby for a highly-touted high school QB.

“I played quarterback all my life until I got here,” Coleman told the Detroit Free Press before facing Notre Dame in 1994. “I always thought I was good at it. I never knew I had potential as a receiver. After my freshman year, it was pretty much a choice of being a backup quarterback or stepping in and playing receiver right away.

“I didn’t like standing on the sidelines. The first Notre Dame game, my uniform was completely clean. I didn’t even have to take a shower. That wasn’t for me.”

In 2014, MaxPreps.com named Coleman the second-best high school football player in Michigan history behind fellow Spartan Andre Rison.

Who else wore No. 6?

Arthur Buss (T, 1931-33), Mark Dell (WR, 2007-10), Harry Graves (FB, 1918-22), David Dowell (S, current), Theo Day (QB, current), Jabari Hendricks (DE, 2000), Mylan Hicks (S/LB, 2012-14), Mark Jones (SE, 1977-80), Sorie Kanu (S, 1995-98), Orson Kellogg (QB, 1917), BJ Lovett (WR, 2001-02), Derrick Reed (DB, 1987-88), Nelson Schrader (T, 1936-37), Damion Terry (QB, 2014-16), Matt Trannon (WR, 2003-06)

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

MORE ON MILL COLEMAN:
*The 'Thrill' isn't gone
* Michigan's Greatest High School Football Players
* VIDEO: Mill Coleman highlight reel