Oct 21, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Malachi Coleman (15) and offensive lineman Nouredin Nouili (63) celebrate after a touchdown by Coleman against the Northwestern Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Former Nebraska Receiver Malachi Coleman Commits to Minnesota

Originally posted on Nebraska Cornhuskers on SI
By Austin Jacobsen | Last updated Dec 24, 2024 6:50 PM ET

Nebraska football will face one of its former in-state players during the 2025 season.

Receiver Malachi Coleman, who said he would be entering the transfer portal on Nov. 25, announced on his social media that would be transferring to Minnesota to join coach PJ Fleck's Golden Gopher program. The sophomore will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Coleman redshirted during his last season in Lincoln, playing in only one game against Rutgers to maintain his redshirt status. During his freshman season, Coleman contributed with six starts and played in eleven games. The Lincoln native caught eight passes for 139 yards and a score, including his 44-yard touchdown against Northwestern at Memorial Stadium.

Coleman was regarded as the No. 1 recruit out of Nebraska during the 2023 cycle, and was ranked as one of the top prospects in the nation. At Lincoln East, Coleman played both receiver and defensive end for the Spartans but played as a receiver with the Cornhuskers. The 6-4, 190 pound sophomore was the No. 60 overall prospect in the country by Rivals and On3 and was slated as a four-star prospect.

After a lengthy recruitment battle, Coleman selected Nebraska over Colorado after receiving numerous scholarship offers from some of the nation's top programs. During his prep career, he continued to impress with his athleticism including a second place finish in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2022 Class A Nebraska Track and Field Championships prior to an injury shortened senior season. Coleman was also a top-three finisher at the state meet in triple jump.

On the gridiron, Coleman finished his junior season with 17 catches for 561 passing yards and ten touchdowns. Defensively he added 57 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

Let’s rock. @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/sUwysPBI3V
— Malachi Coleman (@ChiColeman23) December 24, 2024

Coleman joins a growing receiver group at Minnesota, linking up with Miami (OH) transfer Javon Tracy and UCLA transfer Logan Loya. The Golden Gophers had lost their top-two pass catchers in Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer.

The receiver aims to boost a Minnesota offense that rated in the bottom-half of the Big Ten Conference with 221 passing yards per game and 26 points per contest. Nebraska will travel to Minneso ta to battle Coleman and the Golden Gophers on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.