Jalen Coker
CurrentteamCarolina Panthers
Number18
PositionWide receiver
Birth dateOctober 30, 2001 (age 24)
Birth placeSterling, Virginia, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in3
Weight lb213
High schoolPotomac Falls (Sterling)
CollegeHoly Cross (2020–2023)
Undraftedyear2024
Pastteams
StatusActive
Highlights
Statseason2025
Statlabel 1Receptions
Statvalue 165
Statlabel 2Receiving yards
Statvalue 2872
Statlabel 3Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue 35
PfrCokeJa01

Jalen Coker (born October 30, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Holy Cross Crusaders.

Early life

Coker attended Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, Virginia. During his high school football career, he had 89 receptions for 1,622 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and 169 tackles and 12 interceptions on defense.

Coker also played on the Potomac Falls basketball team as a center, averaging 16.4 points and 7 rebounds per game. He also recorded 2.3 steals and 2.3 assists per game.[1]Coker's career high was 23 points, which he scored 3 times, against Rock Ridge, Briar Woods, and Albemarle.

Coker played at the College of the Holy Cross from 2020 to 2023.[2][3] During his career, he had 163 receptions for 2,684 yards and a school record 31 touchdowns.[4] After the 2023 season he entered the 2024 NFL draft.[5]

Professional career

Coker participated in the 2024 NFL Combine.[6]

2024

See also: 2024 Carolina Panthers season

Coker signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024.[7] Coker was waived on August 28, and subsequently re-signed to the practice squad.[8][9] He was promoted to the active roster on September 24.[10] In Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, Coker had four receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, which was an 83-yard reception.[11] As a rookie, he appeared in 11 games, finishing with 32 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns.[12]

2025

See also: 2025 Carolina Panthers season

Coker was placed on injured reserve to begin the 2025 season, the result of a quad strain suffered in practice.[13] He was activated on October 18, 2025, ahead of the team's Week 7 game against the New York Jets.[14] He finished the season second on the team in receiving yards with 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. Coker had a strong performance in his playoff debut, catching 9 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, leading all receivers in the game.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Jalen Coker's Potomac Falls High School Career Home". www.maxpreps.com. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  2. ^ Toland, Jennifer (November 30, 2022). "Holy Cross WR Jalen Coker is out to create more postseason memories". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Toland, Jennifer (September 28, 2023). "Holy Cross WR Jalen Coker keeps making the big catches". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Stiefel, Keagan (February 26, 2024). "Holy Cross Stars Paving Unfamiliar Path To Combine, NFL Draft". NESN. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Toland, Jennifer (December 5, 2023). "Chasing a childhood dream, Holy Cross stars Coker, Hanson declare for NFL draft". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Toland, Jennifer (February 23, 2024). "'We are both testing really well': Former Holy Cross stars Coker, Hanson gear up for NFL Scouting Combine". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Gantt, Darin (May 10, 2024). "Panthers make roster moves, including signing 19 undrafted free agents". Panthers.com. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
  8. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 28, 2024). "Panthers claim six new players off waivers". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 29, 2024). "Panthers add four more to the practice squad". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Gantt, Darin (September 24, 2024). "Adam Thielen placed on injured reserve, among other moves". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers - December 15th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Jalen Coker 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  13. ^ "Panthers bring back Hunter Renfrow, place Jalen Coker on IR". espn.com. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  14. ^ "Panthers activate two from injured reserve, place one on IR". panthers.com. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  15. ^ "Jalen Coker 2025 Game Log". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2026.