Nebraska sophomore wide receiver Malachi Coleman has decided to enter the transfer portal, head coach Matt Rhule confirmed on Monday.
Coleman, a standout from Lincoln East High School, did not play on offense this season. His only appearance came on special teams against Rutgers on October 5. He did not dress for Nebraska’s recent home games against UCLA and Wisconsin.
“Malachi came in and let us know he was going into the portal,” Rhule said. “We obviously wish him the best. He’s a great young man and a local guy who had some big moments for us last year.”
After a promising freshman year, Coleman’s sophomore season was largely spent on the sidelines. In 2023, Coleman played the third-most snaps among Husker wide receivers, stepping up as a starter in the final seven games due to injuries in the position group. Over 300 snaps, Coleman recorded eight catches for 139 yards, highlighted by a 44-yard touchdown in a win over Northwestern.
Coleman also earned praise from Rhule for his performance as a blocker, particularly in a game against Purdue. Rhule described it as “as good as I’ve ever seen a receiver block in a game.” Later in the season, after narrowly missing a touchdown against Michigan State, Rhule admired Coleman’s drive to improve, recalling how the young receiver said, “I have to go make that play.”
However, Coleman’s progress was hindered by a shoulder injury that limited him during spring camp and into the fall. With senior transfer wide receivers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor joining the team, Coleman was designated as a redshirt candidate for the 2024 season. Rhule expressed optimism at the time, saying, “Malachi stepped up for us last year… and if he can play four games and in the postseason, I think he would pick up right where those guys left off.”
Despite the plan, Coleman never saw the field as a wide receiver this season. He will now transfer with three years of eligibility remaining. The transfer portal officially opens on December 9, though players can announce their intentions earlier.
Coleman, a four-star prospect and consensus top-100 national recruit, was the crown jewel of Nebraska’s 2023 recruiting class. Initially recruited by FCS programs as a sophomore, Coleman’s breakout junior season brought national attention, and Nebraska became the first FBS program to offer him a scholarship. He committed to the Huskers in October 2022.
After the coaching change that brought Rhule to Nebraska, Coleman briefly decommitted and visited Deion Sanders’ Colorado program but ultimately reaffirmed his commitment to his hometown team that December.
Coleman’s Nebraska career concludes after two seasons, as he now seeks new opportunities at his next school.
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