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Pair of Former Washington Huskies Players Make an Impact in NFL
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- Pair of Former Washington Huskies Players Make an Impact in NFL
(Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
The Washington Huskies football team has many alumni currently making an impact for respective NFL teams. This includes two of the most recent Huskies to make their way to the professional level.
The Huskies leading rusher, running back Jonah Coleman , was selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos . The team's leading receiver from 2025, wide receiver Denzel Boston, was selected in the second round of the draft by the Cleveland Browns .
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Both players found the end zone on Sunday and led their respective teams to the win.
Coleman, who received more snaps in place of injured running backs J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey, finished the game with 10 rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown. His score was a three-yard rush on first and goal in the fourth quarter, which resulted in the eventual final of 20-13 Denver after the extra point.
Boston finished his day with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown for the Browns, who ultimately beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19. Boston's touchdown was a 55-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that resulted in Cleveland tying the game 16-16.
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It was the second week in a row Boston had a touchdown.
Both players had different journeys in their respective collegiate careers. Coleman played in the Pacific Northwest for two seasons after beginning his career with the Arizona Wildcats.
Coleman originally committed to the Arizona Wildcats under then-head coach Jedd Fisch.
When Fisch left the Wildcats to take the head coach job with the Huskies, Coleman followed him and running backs coach Scottie Graham via the transfer portal.
In his two seasons on Montlake, Coleman totaled 1,811 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 349 carries across 25 games. He led UW in rushing yards both seasons.
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Boston originally committed to Washington under previous head coach and now- Alabama Crimson Tide head man Kalen DeBoer.
While playing under DeBoer, Boston barely saw the field and sat behind several wide receivers that also made their way to the NFL, including now-retired Ja'Lynn Polk and Chicago Bears wideout Rome Odunze.
Rather than follow DeBoer to Alabama via the transfer portal, Boston stayed in the Pacific Northwest under Fisch, where he emerged as the No. 1 target in the offseason.
In his two years playing under Fisch, Boston totaled 125 catches for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns across 25 games. Boston was second on the team in receiving yards in 2024, led the team in that category in 2025 and topped the team in receiving touchdowns both years while being coached by Fisch.
