FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Washington running back Jonah Coleman
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jonah Coleman
Jonah Coleman (RB – Washington)
5-foot-9 | 228 Pounds
Background
Jonah Coleman was a three- or four-star recruit who originally attended Arizona, where he rotated in the offense, starting eight games over two seasons with the Wildcats. Rushed for 75-372-4 (5.0) as a freshman in 2022, then 128-871-5 (6.8) with another 25-283-1 receiving in 2023 before transferring to Washington.
Stepped into the lead back role for the Huskies in 2024, with a 193-1,053-10 (5.5) line and 23 receptions, then followed that up with 126-758-15 (4.9) and 31-354-2 receiving this past year.
Positives
Coleman is a thickly built back who comes with roughly three years of starting experience between two programs. Relatively scheme-versatile back (Washington ran a lot of zone concepts this year) who plays with a naturally low center of gravity. Has a good instinctive feel for the position and can set up blocks or work through congestion to identify rushing lanes.
Shows good vision to identify cutback lanes and salvage plays that didn’t look promising. Footwork is clean in the backfield. Has some nice jump cuts that he works in as well. Relatively decisive when he finds a lane, with smooth acceleration. Able to make the occasional defender miss in a phone booth. Lowers the shoulder into contact to punish opponents, and there’s some thudding power to his game.
The Huskies prospect does a nice job of twisting and pinballing off of contact to fall forward. Ball security has been very good, with just two career rushing fumbles (plus another as a receiver). Offers a reliable pair of hands, with only one career drop against 88 career catches. Squat frame and solid contact balance carry over into his blitz pickup.
Negatives
Wasn’t able to replicate his junior-year success in 2025, with nearly 40% of his yards and almost half his touchdowns coming in the first two weeks of the season. More bendy than flexible. Needs to get a head of steam going before he’ll start to rack up yards after contact; patient style can cause him to get corralled at the line, where a more sledgehammer-type approach might have been able to make a few yards out of it.
Coleman’s overall speed is closer to adequate. Didn’t break too many long runs this past season. Will probably be a chunk runner at the next level. Catches what’s within his radius in the passing game, but doesn’t present the biggest target. Usage was relatively standard.
Summary
One of the more advanced backs in the class, Coleman is a thickly-built runner with impressive patience, vision and footwork. Those traits allow him to work effectively between the tackles.
There’s also some passing-game upside here because of his contact balance in blitz pickup and his reliable hands in the passing game. Lack of ideal top-end speed limits his upside a bit, but still looks like there’s a good chance he’ll be one of the first few backs off the board on draft day as a relatively safe option.
Projection: Round 3
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