From award-winner for best receiver in college football to first-round draft pick to two-year starter in the NFL to Giants practice squad.

It was a humbling fall from grace for Corey Coleman, who was promoted to the 53-man active roster Wednesday, one week after he first joined the Giants. There was an open roster spot after two trades for draft picks.

"Sometimes, you have to put your ego to the side," Coleman said. "I love this game. If it results in me signing to a practice squad then it's cool. My whole mentality is: Sign me and I'm going to work and try to prove to you that I'm worthy of being part of this team."

The Giants are the fourth team since August for Coleman, whose odyssey started when he was shown on HBO's Hard Knocks in August saying to Browns head coach Hue Jackson, "If y'all don't want to me to play, why don't you just trade me?" The next day he was traded to the Bills for a seventh-round draft pick.

The Bills released Coleman. So did the Patriots. But the Giants believe he has a "future."

"Everyone has an opinion," Coleman said. "Some people think the wrong opinion. People really don't know what went on and the whole truth, so I don't really worry about what other people think."

Coleman says there was more to the story than played out on television, where it looked like he was unhappy with playing on the second-team offense despite too many drops in practice.

"To certain people, I probably do look bad," Coleman said. "But I'm past that and moving forward, and hopefully people can see the new version of me."

The Giants have seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster, but Coleman is part of a logjam competing to be the No. 3 option behind Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard.

"I always have a chip on my shoulder," Coleman said. "This didn't make me have a chip on my shoulder. That's how I've been my whole life. I'm happy to be here for this opportunity."

Coleman was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the best receiver in college football and a consensus All-American when he had 74 catches for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns at Baylor.

The Browns picked Coleman with the No. 15 overall selection in 2016, and he has 56 catches for 718 yards and five touchdowns since then. The Giants drafted cornerback Eli Apple — since traded to the Saints for a fourth-round pick — five picks before Coleman came off the board.

Coleman also had workouts with the Jets, Buccaneers, Eagles and Cardinals.

"It would be frustrating for anyone," Coleman said. "It would be frustrating for you too if you were in my position. I really just have to keep faith. I have to have patience. I like to compete."

Coleman mostly has played in the slot during his career, but he could be used on the outside with the Giants, who use a lot of two tight-end, two-receiver formations.

"We're going to try to get him up to speed," coach Pat Shurmur said. "First, on special teams and then try to get him in on our offensive sets as well."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.