This is the fifth feature of a series leading into fall camp focusing on the new Panther football coaching staff. Coming Monday: Tony Tiller.

Actions speak louder than words.

That appears to be receivers coach Keary Colbert's teaching method on the Georgia State football field. The 31-year old Colbert still dresses for practice with his cleats and gloves so that he can actually run routes or show his receivers the techniques that he learned through his collegiate days and NFL playing career.

“I was a visual learner as an athlete and I think I can actually show the receivers how to do it rather than just telling them how,” Colbert said.

He obviously let his actions speak for him as a college athlete, too. Colbert's expertise at his craft of football pass receiving comes with valid and impressive credentials that includes being Southern California's all-time leading receiver, a Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl champion, not to mention a second-round NFL draft pick (62^nd overall) and six-year NFL career.

Panther Before His Time

Keary Colbert spent six seasons in the NFL,   including his first four seasons in the league with  the Carolina Panthers.  Photo Courtesey: Carolina Panthers.

Colbert's championship rings he earned in college make an impressive photo, too. And he made it to an NFC Championship game with the Carolina Panthers, but didn't advance to the Super Bowl to obtain that prized ring.

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard,” Colbert said in acknowledging why he has always been a diligent worker and why he stresses work ethic to the GSU players.

A native Californian, Colbert grew up about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles on the coast in the Oxnard/Port Hueneme area. As a little boy, Colbert actually started out competing as a bowler and playing t-ball with his friends.

“I was in some pretty intense kids' bowling leagues growing up and I still like to bowl. It wasn't until sixth grade that some friends got me to put on the pads and try tackle football,” Colbert recalled.

An early football influence that taught him about football competition was a cousin who was two years older, Tommie Townsend, who played at Southern Cal and Arizona State on the defensive line. Colbert's uncle Larrry Miller, was his head coach with the Hueneme High School Vikings. After school and especially in summers, Colbert spent lots of time at the Port Hueneme Boys and Girls Club, mentored by former NFL star Chuck Muncie. Muncie was a Heisman Trophy runner-up as a running back at Cal and then a first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, where he became the first 1,000-yard rusher in franchise history. Muncie played in three Pro Bowls during his nine-year career. The 60-year old Muncie just passed away in May, but left a lasting impression and great advice with Colbert.

The Boys and Girls Club connection led to Colbert being honored by the organization after serving as a spokesperson during the 2006 “Be Great” campaign that included public service videos and billboards.

Colbert's California roots made the Trojans of Southern Cal his favorite team. He had the opportunity to train and workout for multiple years with WR Curtis Conway (Chicago Bears first-round pick in 1993), WR Travis Hannah (Houston Oilers fourth-round pick in 1993), Quincy Watts (who won two track gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics) and Trojan defensive back Junior Thurman.

“They pushed me and made be a better athlete,” Colbert said.

And, the 14-year old Colbert was glued to the set watching WR Keyshawn Johnson as MVP of the 1996 Rose Bowl. When Southern Cal recruited Colbert after a high school All-America career, none of the other offers mattered. He only wanted to be a Trojan.

His actions during his time at USC still speak louder than words:

• He re-wrote storied USC's receiving records with 207 catches for 2,964 yards and 19 TDs in 47 games.
• Colbert was a star in the 2004 Rose Bowl with 149 receiving yards in USC's win over Michigan that propelled the Trojans to No. 1 in the Associated Press final poll.
• As a senior, he was a team captain, All-Pac-10, USC's Most Inspirational Player and a Senior Bowl pick after catching 69 passes for 1,013 yards and nine TDs running routes for quarterback Matt Leinart.
• As junior, Colbert helped USC crush BCS No. 3 Iowa 38-17 to win the Orange Bowl and finished the year with 71 catches, 1,029 yards and five TDs catching passes from Carson Palmer.
• Along with the on-field accolades, he also earned his bachelor's degree.

On NFL Draft Day of 2003, Colbert went to Townsend's Las Vegas home and watched the draft. He waited for his phone call to come, but not long. It came early from the Carolina Panthers in the second round.

As a 2004 NFL rookie, fate stepped in and created a unique story. Carolina's leading receiver, Steve Smith, was injured, which thrust the rookie Colbert into the starting lineup in just his second NFL game at Kansas City. In pregame warm-ups, Colbert predicted to a Carolina media member that he was going to score a TD in his rookie start that day. Trailing 10-7, QB Jake Delhomme hit Colbert for a 9-yard TD exactly on the K.C. logo as he had predicted.

It was the start of a solid list of NFL accomplishments:

• He set Carolina Panthers rookie records with 47 catches, 754 yards and five TDs.
• Colbert had a game-winning 40-yard TD catch with 20 seconds left to defeat Tampa Bay in Game 11 of his rookie year. Colbert had scored the first TD of that 21-14 win with a 24-yard TD and finished with three catches for 72 yards in that game.
• Finished his career with 75 career catches for 1,627 yards and eight TDs in six NFL seasons.
• Colbert helped Carolina win NFC playoff games at the New York Giants and Chicago Bears to advance to the NFC championship game at Seattle.

That NFC title game really made an impact on Colbert. “To feel the significance of that game and to take in all the atmosphere at a championship game was really something. Seattle was rocking and the noise level was incredible. That level of competition was so intense.”

When Colbert's NFL playing career was finished, he fixed his goals on becoming a college coach. He started at his alma mater of Southern Cal in 2010.

So, where did 'coach' Colbert pick up the idea of still wearing his gloves and cleats during practice?

“I saw Detroit Lions receivers coach Shawn Jefferson tutoring us with his gear on and saw how that impacted him coaching young Calvin Johnson to get to the level he did,” Colbert said. “And, USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. also dressed out and gave good tips to the linebackers. I think he still does that with the Seattle Seahawks.”

Colbert's actions will still be speaking loudly for Georgia State receivers as the team embarks on the inaugural season in the FBS under coach Trent Miles.