Sophomore wide receiver Keagan Johnson illustrated during his true freshman campaign that he’s going to be a playmaker for Iowa. The 6-foot-1, 197 pound wide receiver appeared in 13 games during the 2021 season and made nine starts.
In Iowa’s 24-14 week four win over Colorado State, Johnson became the first true freshman wide receiver to start for the Hawkeyes since Ihmir Smith-Marsette did so in 2017. Johnson made sure to reward the coaches for that decision. The Bellevue, Neb., native opened the scoring against the Rams with a 43-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Spencer Petras. He also reeled in a 49-yard reception versus Colorado State.
Johnson and Arland Bruce IV made history against Illinois in week 11. Both started against the Illini, marking the first time in Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz’s tenure that a pair of true freshmen wide receivers started the same game.
Along the way, Johnson had other moments of brilliance. In the Hawkeyes’ 27-22 November win over Minnesota, Johnson appeared to be stopped for a loss by Gopher defenders Thomas Rush and Coney Durr after a reception from quarterback Alex Padilla. Instead, Johnson stayed upright, bouncing off the pair of would-be Minnesota tacklers and raced 27 yards into the end zone for a pivotal fourth-quarter score.
Johnson finished the 2021 season with 18 receptions for 352 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown grabs. Here’s a look at Johnson’s best photos with the Hawkeyes thus far.