"It's already been proven": Washington Huskies RB Jonah Coleman shares his views on the California vs. Texas high school football debate

Jonah Coleman, a standout running back for the Washington Huskies, didn’t hold back when discussing the rivalry between California and Texas high school football. Hailing from Stockton, California, Coleman firmly believes the Golden State has the upper hand.

In a video shared by 600 ESPN El Paso reporter Adrian Broaddus on Friday, Coleman said:

"I'm just a kid from Stockton. To be here is just a blessing. I'm happy to be here outside of Stockton. So being here has been great. Cali versus Texas high school football, it's already been proven. It's already been proven. A modern day went into Duncanville, and y'all know what happened then. It's already been proven. Seems like a lot of teams."

The Huskies’ rising star is no stranger to Texas, with the upcoming Sun Bowl against Louisville marking his second game in the Lone Star State.

“It was my second time in Texas last year at San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl, but I really want to get a chance one day to come explore Texas for real. Just having an opportunity to be here is just a blessing,” he said.

Jonah Coleman's impressive freshman season has set the stage for greater achievements. Earning All-Big Ten third-team honors, he racked up over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 6.8 yards per carry.

With 871 rushing yards, five touchdowns on 128 carries and 25 receptions for 283 yards and a touchdown, Coleman has proven himself a versatile offensive threat.

Coming out of Lincoln High School in Stockton, Coleman was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2022. He committed to the Arizona Wildcats and spent his true freshman year there before entering the transfer portal and moving to the Huskies in 2024.

Jonah Coleman’s loyalty to Washington and dominance on the field

Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 229 pounds, junior running back Jonah Coleman opted to stay at Washington despite being eligible for the NFL draft and receiving over 10 transfer offers following his first 1,000-yard rushing season.

On Thanksgiving, Coleman reaffirmed his loyalty to the Huskies.

“I wanted to get my degree,” Coleman said in a Dec. 19 press conference. “That’s something that I wanted, to be the first in my family to get a college degree. That’s something I was committed to before even football.”

Teammate Denzel Boston joked that Coleman had “the whole nation” reaching out to recruit him. But Coleman remained steadfast.

“I’m committed to the University of Washington,” Coleman said, “and the people that believed in me when no one else did. I came to the University of Washington because I was committed to the university and obviously the coaches. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, my decision coming here.”

Jonah Coleman, majoring in education with a focus on sports management, excelled academically with a 4.0 GPA during his first quarter.

“If I say I’m all in, I’m all in," he said. "There’s no 95 percent, 99 percent. It’s 100 percent…I’m here to stay at Washington, and that’s what it’s always been.”

This season, Jonah Coleman has racked up 1,008 rushing yards on 173 carries (5.83 yards per carry) with nine touchdowns across 11 games. Adding 21 receptions for 160 yards, his 1,168 all-purpose yards (106.2 per game) highlight his versatility and commitment to coach Jedd Fisch’s program.