Jonah Coleman 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Washington, RB

How high should former Washington running back Jonah Coleman go in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer

Feb 9, 2026 8:41 AM EST

Oct 4, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Height: 5-9

Weight: 220

Year: Senior

Pro Comparison: Travis Henry

2026 NFL Combine Results

Jonah Coleman, Washington, RB

Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Pros of Jonah Coleman

Coleman possesses nearly-rare contact balance; excels playing through contact to create hidden yardage
Impressive vision that allows Coleman to profile as a diverse runner; can fit well into any running scheme
Has a nose for the end zone and ability to find slight creases in the defense; scored 25 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons
Notable acceleration to get up to top speed in a hurry; combines that with no-nonsense approach to get vertical as quickly as possible
Coleman boasts a soft pair of hands out of the back field; much more than just a checkdown option in a passing game
Possesses tremendous upside as a pass protector; combines his dense and powerful frame with great effort once he identifies pressures and locates blitzers

Cons of Jonah Coleman

Ordinary straight line speed; will always be more of a doubles hitter with an occasional triple, rather than a true homerun hitter
Decreased production during the second half of the 2025 season due to a nagging injury; looked noticeably less explosive
Enters the NFL with a decent amount of tread on his tires (552 carries, 87 receptions in his career); slightly troubling considering the lower shelf life of the running back position

Background

Coleman was considered to be a consensus three-star player coming out of Stockton (Calif.) Lincoln in the 2022 recruiting class. The talented runner ended up ranked as the No. 494 overall player, the No. 38 running back, and the No. 37 player from the state of California for the 2022 class. Coleman chose Arizona originally over some intriguing offers. Some of Coleman’s top offers included the Wildcats, Tennessee, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, San Diego State, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Jose State, and Colorado State. Ended his high school career with 4,118 total yards on offense and 68 touchdowns.

After a breakout season with Arizona in 2023, Coleman opted to follow head coach Jedd Fisch to Washington. Was selected as an All-PAC 12 Honorable Mention honoree in 2023, while being selected All-Big Ten each of the last two years. In his four seasons on the college level, Coleman managed to rush 3,054 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also added another 87 receptions for 838 yards and three more scores as a pass receiver.

Coleman was born on August 20, 2003, and will turn 23 years old prior to his rookie season in the NFL. Was originally a member of a 2022 Arizona recruiting class that included Tetairoa McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea, Noah Fifita, Tacario Davis, Ephesians Prysock, Wendell Moe Jr., and Jacob Manu.

Player Evaluation

Coleman has been a well-liked player in NFL Draft circles over the last couple of years. During his last season at Washington, Coleman had a bit of a body transformation, looking to be in a lot better shape with more muscle tone and less bad weight on his frame overall. That transformation helped his game in terms of acceleration and short-area quickness. Coleman has always been a very dense runner who absorbs contact exceptionally well. That increased explosiveness allowed him to become a much more well-rounded running back during his final collegiate season. He still does his best work as a second-effort runner, showcasing an impressive blend of contact balance and power as a runner. Coleman is the definition of a running back who feasts on second effort runs and also creates hidden yardage. Add in an impressive upside as a pass protector, as well as soft hands out of the backfield, and you have a player who can affect the game every down.

With Coleman having an underwhelming second half of the season in 2025, his draft stock has been tempered a bit. While Coleman showcased increased overall athleticism as a senior, he is still an average overall athlete for a running back on the NFL level. His lack of top-end speed is going to limit Coleman from becoming a game-breaking presence in a backfield, projecting much more favorably as a grinder with the ability to occasionally hit a double or triple. Coleman can take unnecessary shots at times, lacking some creativity at times as a runner.

Coleman has the feel of an early down runner on the NFL level, with some three-down upside in the right situation. When healthy, Coleman is a physical runner who plays with outstanding contact balance. While his game isn’t flashy, Coleman is a winning football player who should quickly gain the trust of a coaching staff early in his career.