Washington Huskies 2013 Recruiting Roundup: Running Back

Players signed: Lavon Coleman (Lompoc HS, Lompoc, Calif.)

Coleman’s ratings: Rivals – 3 stars, Scout – 4 stars, ESPN – 3 stars

Like quarterback, the Huskies are fairly set at running back with both talent and the top and depth. Therefore, it wasn’t a priority for the coaching staff to recruit. Coleman is the lone running back coming in from the Class of 2013, but with Bishop Sankey, Jesse Callier and Deonte Cooper among others, there will be no shortage of runners this season.

Coleman is a big, downhill runner. That’s something the Huskies don’t have much of, if at all, so he may see the field more than expected. Behind speed backs like Sankey and Callier, Coleman should be able to come in as a change-of-pace back, or if they need to convert a third-and-one.

While he is a power back, he has the potential to develop second-level speed and become more of a balanced runner like Sankey. For now, he profiles more like Chris Polk, but has the chance to become the next big running back to come out of UW (after Sankey, of course).

At the very least, Coleman has the athletic ability to make the transition from high school to college football smoothly. Because his running style is unique to the Huskies, expect to see him get more time than a normal three-star recruit at a position of strength.