Norfolk State University Athletics

2023 (Redshirt Senior)
All-MEAC Second Team selection … Started all 11 games … Ranked second on team and eighth in MEAC with 57 total tackles, including 37 solo stops … Also recorded four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one interception, and one sack …  Registered nine tackles, including seven solo stops, against Morgan State with three tackles for loss and one strip-sack … Tallied eight tackles in season-opener against Virginia State, and again in season finale against South Carolina State … Intercepted a pass at Howard.

2022 (Redshirt Junior)
All-MEAC Second Team selection … Played in 11 games, making eight starts … Third on the team with 63 total tackles, including 27 solo stops … Recorded two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one pass breakup, and one quarterback hurry … Made career-high 12 tackles in season-opener at Marshall … Also reached double-digit tackles against Howard (10) … Recorded a sack against Delaware State for a loss of seven yards … Came down with an interception and ensuing 23-yard return at South Carolina State … Also tallied eight tackles and a pass breakup against the Bulldogs … Named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the fall semester.

2021 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Started all 11 games at strong safety … Was second on the team with 56 total tackles … Had two interceptions, deflected two passes and recovered one fumble … Made five tackles at Wake Forest … Also had five at St. Francis … Was in on six tackles, half for a loss, with one fumble recovery at Hampton … Intercepted one pass and broke up another against Virginia Lynchburg … Also intercepted one pass in the win over Morgan State … Credited with eight tackles and a pass breakup at N.C. Central … Made a career-best nine tackles against South Carolina State.

2020 (COVID)
NSU did not play due to COVID-19.

2019 (Redshirt Freshman)
Appeared in one game on the year at safety, the win over Morgan State … Did not accumulate any statistics.

2018 (Redshirt)
Played in four games and thus used his redshirt year … Saw time vs. JMU, Delaware State, Morgan State and Liberty … Notched a pass breakup against JMU … Named to the NSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the spring semester.

High School
Two-way standout played defensive back, quarterback and receiver for Varina … Selected to the 5B All-Region third team as defensive back as a senior … VHSCA State Offensive Utility Player of the Year as a junior … Also earned honorable mention All-Metro as an offensive utility player that season … Second-team All-Conference 12 defensive back as a sophomore.

Personal
Raymond Jerome Coles was born on Dec. 15, 1999 … Goes by R.J. … Son of Raymond and Angelique Johnson … Majoring in engineering … Older sister attended NSU … Had an uncle who played basketball at JMU.

Career Highs
Tackles: 12 (at Marshall, 9-3-22)
INT: 1 (3x, last at Howard, 10-21-23)
PBU: 1 (5x, last at Towson, 9-16-23)
FF: 1 (vs. Morgan State, 10-28-23)