Jonah Coleman Is Heading to Denver, and the Huskies' Homegrown Star Just Got Paid

Jonah Coleman's path just took him from Montlake to the Mile High City. The 5-foot-8, 220-pound running back heard his name called by the Denver Broncos with the 108th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft Saturday, becoming the third Husky selected in this year's class and the first UW running back off the board since Myles Gaskin landed in Miami back in 2019.

This is Coleman's moment. The Stockton native came to Seattle with zero fanfare, just a guy trying to prove he belonged after transferring from Arizona. Now he's headed to the pros on the strength of two seasons that showed why Huskies fans fell in love with him.

From Walk-On Mentality to Pro Prospect

Coleman didn't start his college career as a household name. He began at Arizona under Jedd Fisch and running backs coach Graham back in 2021, part of a trio of tailbacks alongside Michael Wiley and DJ Williams. His true freshman season in Tucson showed flashes: 372 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2022, with eight catches for 24 yards. By 2023, after Wiley got sidelined with a high ankle sprain, Coleman stepped up. He rushed for 871 yards and five touchdowns while hauling in 25 catches for 283 yards and a score, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors.

But the real story? When Fisch got hired to replace Kalen DeBoer at Washington, Coleman was one of the first Wildcats to follow him north. Last year as the undisputed starter for the first time, he posted 1,053 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a Husky, adding 23 catches for 177 yards. Third-team All-Big Ten honors followed. He became the 15th player in UW history to crack 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

The Final Chapter at Montlake

Coleman came back for one more year, and he made it count. Despite a knee injury suffered against Wisconsin on November 8 that limited him down the stretch, Coleman still rushed for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns, tying Rashaan Shehee's 1995 mark for sixth-most rushing scores in a single season. He led UW in rushing both seasons he wore green and gold.

His 2025 campaign was his best as a pass catcher too: 31 receptions for 354 yards and two scores. Coleman also handled kickoff returns and served as a team captain and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist. In his final college game, a dominant 38-10 win over Mountain West champion Boise State in the LA Bowl, Coleman rushed for 85 yards on 12 carries.

Now he's off to Denver to show the Broncos what everyone in Seattle already knew. Running backs coach Graham said it best: "Jonah will get an opportunity to play wherever he goes. He's a football player."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.