Jonah Coleman | RB | Washington | 2025 Draft Eligible
Jonah Coleman, former Arizona Wildcat running back, recently announced his decision to follow HC Jedd Fisch to the Washington Huskies. Fisch helped to put the Wildcats football program back on the map in 2023, leading them to a 10-3 record and a bowl win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. On January 14th, Fisch signed a 7-year deal to be the head coach of the Huskies, and just one week later, his lead back from Arizona also made the switch. Coleman is entering an excellent situation at Washington with a chance to establish himself as a true NFL talent. Let’s first look at the path that has led Coleman to Washington.
High School
Coleman was a 3-star prospect out of Lincoln High School in Stockton, CA. He was a four-year varsity player, compiling over 4,100 scrimmage yards and 68 touchdowns during his time there. Coleman averaged nearly 10 YPC and flashed as a receiver, specifically in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Jonah had several Power 5 offers out of high school, electing to play for Jedd Fisch and the rebuilding Wildcats.
Arizona Wildcats (2022-23)
Coleman got some decent playing time as a freshman for Fisch, working in a 3-man committee backfield with a pair of juniors, Michael Wiley and DJ Williams. As a sophomore, Coleman beat out both of these backs for the lead role, finishing with 871 rush yards, 283 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns. He had just 128 carries on the season, finishing with a wildly impressive 6.8 YPC. He also confirmed his ability as a pass catcher, with 25 receptions.
Scouting Report
At 5’9″ and 225 lbs, Jonah Coleman is an absolute bruiser coming out of the backfield. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s not slow, especially given his size. He loves to initiate contact but has the athleticism and shiftiness to juke defenders. Jonah’s PFF Elusive Rating was 4th in the FBS last season (min. 100 attempts), suggesting he’s one of the most efficient rushers in the nation. He also led the nation in yards after contact per attempt at an absurd 5.09 YCO/A (min. 100 attempts).
Coleman mainly played out of the backfield but lined up outside from time to time. He has reliable hands in the receiving game, dropping just one pass on 50 targets in his career. Ball security is another strength for the young man; he’s yet to fumble once over 202 rush attempts. Coleman is also an effective pass blocker, allowing just two pressures and zero sacks on 59 pass-block opportunities in 2023.
Washington Huskies (2024-?)
With Dillon Johnson declaring for the NFL Draft, Coleman is walking into a bell cow role at Washington for his junior season. 5th-year senior and Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers is expected to have QB1 honors for the Huskies this coming fall. He’s thrown for over 12,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his four-year career, so he’s a more than capable replacement for Michael Penix Jr. I’m hoping to see Coleman continue to expand his role in the receiving game and show us he can carry a true 3-down workload.
Washington is moving to the Big Ten in 2024, along with USC, UCLA, and Oregon. The current Big Ten conference is known for its stout defenses, giving Coleman his toughest test to date. If he can continue flashing this hyper-production on 200+ carries in the Big Ten, he’ll be a guy every devy and dynasty player will want on their rosters.
NFL Projection
This 2025 RB draft class is filled with heavy hitters. The NIL has influenced a bunch of NFL talent to stay in college an extra season, filling this class with top-tier rushing talent. This class is expected to include names like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Nicholas Singleton, Raheim Sanders, Trevor Etienne, Kaytron Allen, Devin Neal, Omarion Hampton, and Ollie Gordon. I mean, that’s not even fair. Because of this ridiculous competition, I would be very surprised if Jonah declared after his junior season. Expect him to stay two years in Seattle to build up his draft stock and stand out in his class.
Coleman is a jack of all trades. He has the rare combination of size and athleticism to be a 3-down back in the NFL one day. If he waits until 2026 to declare, I think he has a real shot to succeed at the next level. If you’re getting ready for your supplemental drafts in your devy leagues this offseason, consider taking a shot on this young man before his stock rises in 2024. Jed Fisch should have big plans for this bruiser RB at Washington, and I’m excited to see the kid officially put his name on the map.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
