Over the past two years on Montlake, there was never a debate about who the Washington Huskies' starting running back would be. That role was left to Jonah Coleman, who rushed for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns in his two seasons at Washington.
The lead back was complemented by underclassman Adam Mohammed, who was expected to fill the starting spot heading into 2026.
Fast forward to the week before the Huskies kick off their season, and neither back is on Jedd Fisch's roster. The Denver Broncos selected Coleman in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft, while Mohammed chose to enter the transfer portal and take his talents to the California Golden Bears.
After bringing in four fresh faces to the room with a pair of veteran transfers in Jayden Limar
and Trey Cooley along with freshmen Brian Bonner Jr. and Ansu Sanoe, Jedd Fisch could turn to a running back-by-committee approach. The quartet will be joined by sophomore Quaid Carr, who took the majority of first-team reps in fall camp.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound product of Servite High School in Southern California is looking to take a massive leap in production during his second season under Fisch and running backs coach Scottie Graham. The inexperienced back only played in two games last year, rushing for a total of 14 yards on just four carries.
Splitting first-team reps with Carr throughout camp was Oregon transfer Jayden Limar. The fourth-year player from nearby Lake Stevens High School racked up 262 yards on 46 carries with 3 touchdowns over the course of eight games last season, and the former Duck could prove to be a weapon in the passing game as well, collecting 20 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown over the course of three years in Eugene.
Despite Carr and Limar seeming to be the 1-2 combo in the backfield, they won't be the only ones taking carries this season. Bonner appears to have carved out a role for himself in the offense, presenting a unique combination of size and speed at the position. The 6-foot, 205-pound back was ranked as the No. 6 running back in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite.
Another name to keep an eye on is sixth-year journeyman Trey Cooley, who was limited throughout camp while recovering from a knee injury he suffered during his time at Troy. The veteran has spent time at Louisville, Georgia Tech, Troy, and now Washington throughout his career.
Third-year player Jordan Washington was also hoping to step into a key role for the offense this season, but is likely out for the year due to a neck injury he suffered during spring practice.
Rather than trying to find a single player to fill the large shoes left by Coleman, the Huskies will rely on several names to try to replicate the productivity of the current Denver Bronco. Regardless of what the depth chart reveals before the regular season, Husky fans should expect a fluid rotation of bodies to complement Demond Williams Jr. and the passing game.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Could Turn To Committee Approach at Running Back
