2023 (Freshman)
Malachi Coleman played in 11 games with six starts as a true freshman. He caught eight passes for 139 yards with one touchdown. Coleman also impressed as a perimeter blocker, helping Nebraska rank second in the Big Ten in rushing.
Coleman caught the first pass of his career with a five-yard reception at Illinois. Coleman's second career reception was a 44-yard touchdown grab against Northwestern. He had the first multi-catch game of his career at Michigan State when he had two receptions for 39 yards, including a 30-yard catch. Coleman also had two catches at Wisconsin, totaling 32 receiving yards. He ended his first season with two catches for 19 yards against Iowa.
Before Nebraska (Lincoln East HS)
Regarded as the No. 1 recruit in Nebraska and one of the top prospects in the country, Coleman was a standout on the football field and on the track for Lincoln East High School. The athletic Coleman was selected to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl. In the Polynesian Bowl, Coleman caught two touchdown passes.
Injuries limited Coleman’s availability and productivity as a senior, but he flashed his ability during his junior season. As a junior, Coleman caught 17 passes for 561 yards, averaging 33 yards per reception. Ten of his 17 catches went for touchdowns. On defense, Coleman had 57 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He was also a stellar returner for the Spartans.
On the track, Coleman finished second in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2022 Class A Nebraska Track and Field Championships before injuries cut his senior track season short in 2023. His ability was not limited to his speed, as Coleman finished third in the triple jump at the state meet as a junior and fourth as a sophomore. Coleman also played basketball for Lincoln East.
Coleman was ranked as the No. 60 overall prospect in the country by Rivals and in the On3 Consensus rankings. The four-star prospect was a consensus pick as one of the top five athletes nationally. Coleman chose Nebraska over Colorado after receiving scholarship offers from many of the nation’s top programs.