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Jonah Coleman represents Washington Huskies on Big Ten’s rushing leaders after week 5

By Ethan Lee

Sep 27, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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The Big Ten is often known for its dynamic running backs and strong defensive performances. This is a conference that, for many college football fans, has an identity found in running the ball well, playing conservatively, and then winning by strangling the clock and keeping the ball away from your opponent. 

That’s not exactly the brand of football that the Washington Huskies happen to play and it’s not exactly the sort of offense that UW running back Jonah Coleman exists in, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a powerful running back who is among the Big Ten’s best this season. 

In fact, Coleman currently ranks as the No. 4 rusher in the Big Ten conference in terms of total rushing yards after week five. His huge 148-yard performance against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights last Friday probably helped with that a bit. 

Big Ten rushing leaders: Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman in top 5 in rushing yards

And now, roughly one-third to one-half (depending on how many games your team has played) of the way through the 2024 season, Coleman sits among the Big Ten’s best. Here’s the top five rushers in the Big Ten after five weeks of the season:

  • Kaleb Johnson (Iowa Hawkeyes) - 685 yards
  • Kyle Monangai (Rutgers Scarlet Knights) - 589 yards
  • Kalel Mullings (Michigan Wolverines) - 540 yards
  • Jonah Coleman (Washington Huskies) - 521 yards
  • Nicholas Singleton (Penn State Nittany Lions) - 408 yards

Kaleb Johnson, the Iowa Hawkeyes running back, has been just unbelievable, especially considering how one-dimensional that offense is and how opposing defenses know what to account for in any given game. Kyle Monangai is a name that Washington fans are now familiar with and he has shown he can be similarly great for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Michigan is pretty much all in on running the ball this year and the Wolverines can’t do much else on offense. Then there’s Coleman, who plays for a pretty dynamic and well-rounded, multi-faceted offense.

Not all of those guys have played five games, but that’s just a function of how the schedule works out. Some teams have early bye weeks. Washington’s first bye week isn’t until week seven, essentially halfway through the season.

Coleman has been incredible when he’s been given a chance to run as he wants. So far this season, Washington’s starting running back is averaging 7.2 yards per carry and 104.2 yards per game. As the Huskies try to make it to a bowl game down the stretch of the season, they’ll need Coleman to continue to play at that level.

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