After setting Branden Oliver on the track to stardom, University at Buffalo running backs coach Matt Simon kept his eyes on the future. According to the New York Post’s Zach Braziller, Simon was instrumental in Christ the King running back James Coleman’s verbal commitment to Buffalo over a slew of contenders.

The list of other colleges visiting Christ the King to scout Coleman is lengthy and impressive: Michigan, West Virginia, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple and UConn. As a junior high school quarterback, Coleman totaled 20 touchdowns and earned All-Queens honors by the New York Post. While the high-major schools were more interested in shuffling Coleman to the defensive side of the ball, Simon was set on Coleman’s future at running back, his preferred position according to Braziller’s piece. Assuming he stands by his verbal, Coleman will be a UB freshman in fall 2014.

UB head coach Jeff Quinn trusts Simon’s judgment in identifying and molding talent, as the running back coach’s 30-year career has included teaching of Jamal Lewis with the Ravens and LaDainian Tomlinson with the Chargers.

At 6’3, 210 pounds, Coleman is on the taller side for a college running back, and his build is the complete opposite of Oliver’s 5’8, 204 bowling-ball frame. The Queen recruit is listed as a quarterback on Scout.com and does not have a “star” rating. After the James Potts fiasco—he’s still sorting out eligibility issues—it’s promising for the future of the Bulls’ backfield that Coleman is tentatively in the fold.

“I think he’s going to be a breakout player for them,” Christ the King coach Tyree Allison said to Braziller. “He had a great spring, he bought into the system. He’s going to have a really, really productive career at the University of Buffalo.”