Kaleb Johnson picked up another honor after his torrid start to the season and his latest sensational performance against Minnesota.
Johnson was named the Doak Walker Award Running Back of the Week after rushing for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in Iowa’s 31-14 win over the Gophers.
It represented the second 200-yard rushing performance of Johnson’s Hawkeye career. His other 200-yard rushing performance came during Iowa’s 24-3 win over Purdue on Nov. 5 in 2022.
It was also the eighth 100-yard rushing performance of Johnson’s career and his fourth straight to start the 2024 season. Johnson’s four straight 100-yard rushing performances made him the first Hawkeye to accomplish that feat since Mark Weisman in 2012.
The Hamilton, Ohio, product is the first Iowa tailback with multiple touchdowns in the first four games of a season since Tavian Banks tallied 12 touchdowns in the first four during the 1997 season. Johnson’s two or more touchdowns in four straight games is also the first for a Hawkeye since Weisman had multiple touchdowns in five straight games in 2014.
Doak Walker RB of the Week ➡️ @Kj_Superman2 Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week ➡️ @Rhys_dak1n#Hawkeyes
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 24, 2024
The 6-foot, 225 pound running back leads the nation in rushing with his 685 yards on 82 carries.
Since 2000, Johnson is now one of three Big Ten players with 680-plus rushing yards and nine-plus rushing touchdowns through a team’s first four games. Johnson joined Javon Ringer with Michigan State in 2008 and Mohamed Ibrahim with Minnesota in 2020.
In the win over the Gophers, Johnson registered runs of 21, 23, 24, 33 and 40 yards. It ran Johnson’s tally of 20-plus yard rushes to 12 on the season so far.
Iowa and Johnson get a week off with a bye before returning to action at No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
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