Glen Coffee

Glenwood Razeem Coffee, Jr (born May 1, 1987) is a former American football running back. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft and played one season before retiring from football in 2010 and serving in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2017. Coffee came out of retirement and was reinstated by the NFL on April 21, 2017. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

For the Oklahoma state senator, see Glenn Coffee.
Glen Coffee
Coffee at 49ers Family Day in June 2009
No. 29
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1987-05-01) May 1, 1987
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Fort Walton Beach
(Fort Walton Beach, Florida)
College:Alabama
NFL Draft:2009 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:83
Rushing yards:226
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:76
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com
Glen Coffee
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service2013–2017
RankSpecialist

College career

2005 season

In Coffee's freshman season at Alabama, he appeared in all twelve games.[2] On September 17, he rushed for a season-high 75 yards on 15 attempts in a 37–14 win over South Carolina.[2][3] He did not see significant action throughout the remainder of the season, as he was a backup to starter Kenneth Darby while sharing time with Jimmy Johns. In Alabama's homecoming game versus Utah State, he scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 9–yard reception from quarterback John Parker Wilson.[4]

In his freshman season, Coffee rushed for a 179 yards on 48 attempts. He also caught eight passes for 91 yards, including one touchdown.[2]

2007 season

After redshirting his sophomore season on campus,[5] Coffee returned in the 2007 season under new head coach Nick Saban. In that season, he split time as the starting running back with freshman Terry Grant. In the season opener versus Western Carolina, Coffee rushed nine times for 76 yards and one touchdown in a 52–6 victory.[6][7] In the season's homecoming game, he had his first 100-yard rushing game in a 30–24 win over Houston. In total, he rushed for 121 yards on 30 attempts and one touchdown, as well as catching one pass for six yards.[8] However, he did not accumulate any statistics in four of Alabama's final five games.[6] Alabama earned an appearance in the 2007 Independence Bowl versus Colorado. Coffee carried the ball 19 times for 72 yards in a 30–24 win.[6][9]

Coffee finished his redshirt sophomore season with 545 yards on 129 carries, scoring four touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 142 yards.[5]

2008 season

In the 2008 season, Coffee was the starter in all 14 games, though shared time with two other running backs, Roy Upchurch and Mark Ingram Jr.[10] Coffee's first 100-yard rushing performance came in the fourth game of the season in a 49–14 rout of Arkansas. He carried the ball ten times for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including his career-long run of 87 yards.[11] In the following game, Coffee again scored twice in a 41–30 upset over #3 Georgia, finishing the game with 23 carries for 86 yards.[12] Coffee's career best game came in the following week in a 17–14 win over Kentucky, as he ran for 218 yards on 25 attempts, including a 78-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.[13] His 218 yards was the most by an Alabama running back since Shaun Alexander in 1996.[14] Alabama clinched a berth in the 2008 SEC Championship Game with a 27–21 overtime victory over LSU, in which Coffee rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown.[15] In the annual Iron Bowl, he ran for his fourth 100+ yard game in a 36–0 rout of rival Auburn with 144 yards and one touchdown.[16] After rushing for 112 yards in the SEC Championship game loss to Florida,[17] Coffee was held to his season low in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah. The Utes defense held Coffee to 36 yards on 13 attempts in a 31–17 Utah victory.[18]

In his best statistical season at Alabama, Coffee ran for 1,383 yards and ten touchdowns, while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.[19] With his season's performance, Coffee was named to the Associated Press All-SEC first team.[1] On January 9, 2009 Coffee announced he would forgo his Senior year and declare for the 2009 NFL Draft. He was represented by sports agent Todd Crannell of Q2 Sports & Entertainment.

College statistics
TeamSeasonRushingReceiving
AttYardsAvgLongTDRecYardsAvgLongTD
Alabama2005 481793.7370 89111.4401
2006 Redshirt season
2007 1295454.2204 181427.9320
2008 2331,3835.98710 161187.4151
Total 4102,1075.18714 423518.4402
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2008 season.[19]

Professional career

San Francisco 49ers

Coffee was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft with the 74th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.[20] He was used primarily as a backup to Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore.[21]

Retirement

After attending OTAs minicamp, and two weeks of training camp, Coffee abruptly announced on August 13 that he would retire just before the start of the 2010 NFL preseason.[22][23] Head coach Mike Singletary stated that sixth round draft pick Anthony Dixon and veteran Michael Robinson would compete for the second running back spot and that Coffee's departure would not be a distraction to the team. However, on August 16, the 49ers signed free agent veteran Brian Westbrook as the backup running back to a one-year deal. The 49ers could move to recoup $621,000 of Coffee's $828,000 signing bonus.[24]

Coffee planned to return to the University of Alabama to finish his degree in consumer affairs, with an eye towards graduate school. Coffee confirmed that the reason he retired was that his heart was never in football and that he believed God wanted him to take another path.[25]

Comeback

On April 21, 2017, Coffee was officially reinstated by the NFL and was subsequently released by the San Francisco 49ers who still owned his player rights.[26] Coffee announced his intentions to play in The Spring League Showcase on July 15, 2017.[27]

Coffee returned to the University of Alabama to finish his college degree and is now an assistant coach with the running backs on the Nick Saban coaching staff. [28]

Military service

Coffee subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 2013 to become a paratrooper.[29][30]

In June 2013, Coffee graduated from United States Army Airborne School.[31] He trained as a paratrooper, and was assigned to the 6th Ranger Training Battalion.[32] He reached the rank of Specialist (E-4) and served as an airborne infantryman.[26]

Personal life

Coffee's brother, Matt, played fullback for the University of South Carolina.[33] Coffee co-authored a book with his father Glen Coffee Sr. There’s More to Life than the Pursuit of Money from Christian Faith Publishing. [34] [35]

References
  1. "2008 AP All-SEC Football Team Announced". SECSports.com. December 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  2. "Glen Coffee stats - 2005". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  3. "Shula wins just third road game with 'Bama". Associated Press. September 17, 2005. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  4. "Aggies lose ninth straight road contest". Associated Press. October 29, 2005. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  5. "38 Glen Coffee". University of Alabama Athletics. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  6. "Glen Coffee stats - 2006". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  7. "Bama faithful bask in Saban's winning debut as coach". Associated Press. September 1, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  8. "Alabama 30, Houston 24". Associated Press. October 6, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  9. "Wilson's 3 TDs carry Alabama to bowl win over Colorado". Associated Press. December 30, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  10. "Alabama Combined Team Statistics" (PDF). University of Alabama Athletics. January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  11. "Interception returns for TDs spark No. 9 Tide's blowout of Arkansas". Associated Press. September 20, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  12. "No. 8 Alabama turns up heat in first half on way to win over No. 3 Georgia". Associated Press. September 27, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  13. "Coffee runs for 218 yards as Alabama stops Kentucky". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 4, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  14. Latta, Scott (October 4, 2008). "Coffee's Career Day Sends No. 2 Alabama Past Kentucky, 17-14". UA Media Relations. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  15. "Saban makes victorious return to Tiger Stadium as Bama stays unbeaten". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 8, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  16. "Alabama shuts out Auburn for biggest Iron Bowl win in 46 years". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 29, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  17. "Tebow's 3 TD strikes lead Gators' waltz past Tide". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 6, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  18. "Utah secures perfect season with Sugar Bowl win over Alabama". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  19. "Glen Coffee #38 RB". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  20. "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  21. "2009 San Francisco 49ers Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  22. Maiocco, Matt (August 13, 2010). "49ers RB Coffee Retires Suddenly". CSNBayArea.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  23. Farrar, Doug (August 13, 2010). "It's a jolt: 23-year-old Glen Coffee retires from NFL". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  24. Price, Taylor (August 13, 2010). "Coffee Tells 49ers He Intends to Retire". San Francisco 49ers. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  25. Price, Taylor (August 15, 2010). "Coffee: I've already told Christ it's time to go". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  26. Bergman, Jeremy. "Glen Coffee attempting com back after Army service". NFL.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  27. Florio, Mike (July 11, 2017). "Glen Coffee will participate in Spring League Showcase". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  28. Spencer, Adam (July 11, 2017). "Former Alabama RB Glen Coffee returns to Tuscaloosa as a student assistant". SaturdayDownSouth. SaturdayDownSouth. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  29. Gribble, Andrew (June 21, 2013). "With brief NFL career behind him, former Alabama RB Glen Coffee to graduate from Airborne School". AL.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  30. Petschky, Barry (June 21, 2013). "Remember Former 49ers RB Glen Coffee? He's An Army Paratrooper Now". Deadspin. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  31. "South - FOX Sports". FOX Sports.
  32. Lamothe, Dan (August 7, 2015). "Once an NFL running back, now he's on the Army Ranger School staff". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  33. "GamecocksOnline.com - South Carolina Gamecocks Official Athletic Site Official Athletic Site of the South Carolina Gamecocks - Football".
  34. "Glen Coffee Sr. & Glen Coffee Jr.'s Newly Released "There's More to Life Than the Pursuit of Money" Is an Inspiring True Story of a Former NFL Player Called to Ministry". CisionPRWeb.
  35. "There's More to Life Than the Pursuit of Money". Amazon.com.
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