The most impactful play of the 2023 season was late in the Sugar Bowl where Dillon Johnson suffered a knee injury as Washington was trying to end the game by deflating the football. We all know what happened in the endzone as time expired. The ramifications of that injury were felt in the National Championship when Dillon Johnson just couldn’t carry the load or protect Michael Penix Jr. as he had done all season.

The problem was depth.

After Dillon Johnson there wasn’t another running back in the program that could step in and fill those shoes.

Fast forward to the 2025 season and Washington has reloaded the position group. At the top they have a premier back that is NFL bound as well as a stable of young talent that has shown flashes on Saturdays. The running back room is one of the healthiest position groups in the program with potential stars from top to bottom.

Star Power: Jonah Coleman is simply one of the best running back in the country. His 5-9, 230 frame makes him a nightmare to bring down. He was impossible to tackle in the open field with just one defender. This summer he focused on becoming more of a threat out of the backfield for the dynamic offense lead by Demond Williams Jr.

For such a bulky frame Coleman moves nimbly. He has excellent vision and is able to be decisive when running off script. This time next year he will be preparing for the start of his NFL career.

Returners: Sophomore Adam Mohammed looks like the next star on Montlake. His violent running style worked as a short yard thumper. The shaky O-line play led to lots of yards after contact for Mohammed. He needs to take a step in his trust in the new and improved O-line and be patient as the line creates holes.

Redshirt Freshman Jordan Washington is lightning quick. He has made life hell on defenders who are tasked with setting the edge. His explosive burst is dangerous on the outside. He will be a problem in the passing and screen game. He has the potential to take any carry to the endzone.

Freshmen: One of the most underrated prospect of the 2025 recruiting process was Julian McMahan. He is already 6-2 and 230 pounds after enrolling early in January. His high school tape explodes with top tier talent as a runner and a receiver. His running style and long strides in the open field remind me of a young Adrian Peterson. His frame makes him the most likely to burn a redshirt in the 2025 season.

Quaid Carr is the other intriguing prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle. While McMahan looks like an every down back, Carr has a different gear. He is lightning quick like Jordan Washington. He looks like he will assume that role after time in the program to develop.

Overall: The running back room is in a great place in 2025. It is clear that they have the star power in Coleman and Mohammed to be in the conversation as a top-3 duo in the conference.

What makes this position group so intriguing is that it is set up to be a position of strength for the future as well with McMahan as the clear #3 behind Coleman and Mohammed and Carr the backup to Jordan Washington.

Starter: Jonah Coleman

Backup: Adam Mohammed, Jordan Washington

Rotation: Julian McMahan, Quaid Carr

Check out 4th and Inches, a Husky Podcast for the full breakdown of the offense.