Interview with Washington RB Jonah Coleman at Big Ten Media Days

all right so why was this an easy decision for you to follow coach fish because um that's my guy just a relationship that we have and what we built at Arizona you know it was beyond football you know at that point um it it was about family so um really the trust I got in him and uh coach Graham would played a big part in my decision you know those my guys I committed to them when they were one and 11 when nobody believed in them and you know I was a time when no one believed in me either so um it was Mutual uh but yeah that's why it was so easy how long after he made the move did you already know you were going uh right right after right after soon as he came and talked to us but really um I understood why he left and not many people understand why he left so um it it it was just something that you know I couldn't put out there and something that we shouldn't talk about but um it was a better opportunity a better situation uh for myself for my family and you know I feel like that was a decision to make how is the offense you're building now at Washington compared to what you played in their Zone we played in Arizona it it it was a lot of great players and we have a lot of great players here at Washington you know um guys got drafted Jordan Morgan Jacob Cowan Tanner mclocklin and you know Mike Wy DJ WIlliams you know our NFL team so um it it was special you know um it's it's the same I feel like we got some guys we got some guys under the radar that people going to find about find out about quick you know got a great quarterback Ro Rogers got a great young quarterback demon Williams you know got some old linemen so we going to be good baby you guys uh have been named the you guys are going to Penn State for the white out game you know about that and kind of to go to one of the Premier environment football we asked for it you know um I think before we were supposed to be the big noon game with them but um we we wanted that you know we looking forward to that that's one of them games that you know you dream of as a kid you know um I know everyone seen that uh famous video where they made uh Michigan take a time out so um just being a part of that it's just something that I have to I have to feel in the moment but I'm definitely looking forward to playing or something like that that's that's a game that everybody gonna watch you know all eyes on you know us basically so definitely looking forward to that how you just go to the east coast obviously you know you guys are doing the Big 10 you know it's it spans Countrywide now just how excited are you just play in that environment I'm excited you know get get to expand my vision you know I'm from Stockon California not much there you know dangerous city uh I couldn't even imagine like being in the situation I'm in now you know I thank God for that so um being able to just go play in these stadiums is is crazy like you said Penn State um Indiana record and you know things like that it's it's it's it's shocking you know it's still unbelievable and I feel like um this whole big 10 thing is to unbeliev it so you know I believe it when I get into the moment you know I like to take things day by day and stuff so um I'm excited for you know what's to come for sure you mentioned that big 10 Factor Jonah and you also mentioned all the reasons why you went to Washington was the fact that Washington was moving to the Big 10 did that factor it all into your decision for sure okay big 10 is the NFL college football the the biggest the baddest the most physical you know it's it's what it's all about you know when you watch the Big 10 you think about physical running backs physical defense like Iowa you know things like that so that's that's all what I'm I'm about all that you know I'm I'm about all that action so you mentioned the off you mention the off obviously the fans haven't necessarily gotten to see the guys that have coming to the transfer portal Max McCree described you as a star running back without having played a game what do you see from the offensive like guys have been brought into the CH world I kind of see like how it was when we first got to Arizona young guys that need to uh that they're going to be developed and you know going to be coached by the right people you know not everything is built in a day but um we're going to be all right what was it about that 2022 recruiting class in Arizona that you were a part of that really seemed to just taking back to when you were in high school in that class what would did you feel the momentum building even then knowing that that program I think finished went 5 and seven 4 and eight That season but you guys still were going to come in and change the trajectory of the program we just knew it it was a lack of belief you know that year um we were good enough to win but we didn't believe that we could win and I feel like the same with like the beginning of the year with Arizona like um the first couple gam it was weather like we didn't believe that we can win a game too it was Hal time third quarter fourth quarter till it was kind of already late you know so and then we kind of went on we went on that run because it's just like come on we lost SC in triple overtime we lost to Mississippi in overtime we lost to Washington by a touchdown so it's we can do it we can win and you know it all started with Coach fish he he made us believe he built the culture and you know that's what it was as much as you've seen of obviously both coach fish at Arizona and now at washingon and how much can you truly say that that culture and everything that was that you were about at Arizona has truly carried over to Washington uh not fully but you know it's it's a new start to a New Journey you know it's not going to be identical the team of 2023 um Arizona was you know was something special you know I feel like that we can build something like that at Arizona as well I mean at Washington as well so um it it's just it's part of the process process you know you trust the process you keep believing you bring guys in when you're a leader you know it's being a leader and having an opportunity to come here I feel like it's my job to make sure that the team is close and you know everyone's buying in it's about trusting you know I'd say one of the biggest messages that coach fish and the other coaches have talked about at Washington is this idea of the pro mentality bringing in and using their Pro experience guys like Steve belich coming in Bren and Carrol obviously being a big part of it I remember specifically during spring Pete Caroll brought you and and Carson into a competition and I was just curious what that Dynamic has been like having those Pro coaches be a part of what was going on this spring and and how do you think that's going to factor into what Washington's going to be like moving forward man we can compete with anybody in the country we don't care about the school name or the brand or none of that we can compete with anybody at the end ofday is football you know and you know the best players going to play the best players going to produce and you know it's all about showing up and showing out you know um I didn't know that was going to happen but you know it was competition so you know I'm I'm for you know we're for it you know um that's what the program is built on competition we're going to compete we going we going to scrap tip you know we can't I mean I and I know obviously being a high level competitor that's one thing but every once in a while when you saw that happen or when you're over looking at the linebackers maybe one time and you see Bill belich coaching up Carson and Alfonso and those guys is part of your brain going this is a trip yeah it's crazy definitely definitely being around them you know like I Tom Brady Super Bowl bill bich on the sideline what him it's just crazy to me you know just being right there next to him you know even being in the position that I'm in in college you know knowing like how I grew up it is it's kind of crazy to me and sometimes I I still uh have trouble believing that I'm in a situation that I'm in so being around those guys being able to talk to those guys and get the knowledge from them it's it's it's unbelievable and I feel like it's a blessing and I feel like that's one of the uh pros of being a part of you know the culture that Jeff fish has he's going to make the transition way easier than you know most colleges may you know not have it you run a pro pro offense Pro System Pro schedule like everything is about the next level so do you when you see guys like belch or or coach Carol or things like like that and they're doing their thing on the defensive side of ball do you ever wonder as an offensive guys like coach fish where are the offensive guys coming in when do we get to talk to some of the some of the offensive NFL guys coach fish is the offensive NFL guy so that's that's really about it but um even know they may be talking to the defense you know off the football field and stuff you know they they they help offense too and they tell coach fish they let him know and you know they're wandering around the building so you may catch them you can talk to them for a quick they'll stop and talk to you so it's not like uh they're just focus on one side of the ball so it's it's kind of like everyone helps everyone is there anything from those conversations you can share even just a quick tipit or something that has stuck in your brain that you're going to keep with you uh I was talking to coach coach Pete Carroll um co co coach Pete Carroll um in Spring ball and uh something that shocked me he was like I love watching you like I love watching you and you just never know I remember one of my coaches in high school uh coach Rob uh he he told us you never know who's watching and you know it it was just unbelievable to know that he's watching me you know and he took the time out his day to even you know notice me you know out there on the field so um he he told me that he L watching me he love the way I competed so it was a great hearing that and it just made me want to go harder does it for you personally does that sorry I just wonder does that open up your mind to even you ask more questions or does that redouble your efforts in terms of what you need to work on maybe to just make sure even more guys are watching what you're doing yeah it it it doesn't really I'm unsure it's just like when he said that it was kind of like like I I asked him what do you think I can do better you know and know I don't feel like he fully analyzed me like that but um my coach told me that you know Bill likes me a lot too so um I haven't had a conversation with Bill I've been too nervous to go up to him but uh Steve that's my guy me and Steve were like this but uh I'm a little nervous to go up the bill but uh next time I see him um I'm not going to be afraid to go up and talk to him you know he's he's another guy but he's also a goat so um you know the Jitter getting so you certainly already establish yourself and now you're doing it again in a different conference different teams what do you want to approve this year personally I just want to prove that I belong you know everyone saying Pack 12 soft pack 12 with this pack 12 with that but we in the Big 10 where the big dos at you know so it's it's time to you feel me show it on the highest stage and I feel like you know me personally I was built for this moment and you know the University of Washington We Built For This Moment you know like it's it's a winning culture it's a winning program you know like so Jonah what do you think about your player rating