No back in America has run the ball better than Kaleb Johnson has for the Iowa Hawkeyes this season through four games. The nation’s leading rusher has freshly been named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and was named the Doak Walker Running Back of the Week.
Through four weeks he has been the catalyst for the Iowa offense that has so desperately needed one. He is bailing Iowa out of bad situations and is putting up points on the scoreboard in a hurry.
Johnson was not always expected to be this good, though. He has found success in Tim Lester’s new offense and it was recently chronicled by the Hawkeyes’ offensive coordinator.
“I think you notice Kaleb is a special athlete the moment you meet him. The first time you see him run. The combination of size and speed and balance and physicality is rare. My biggest question for him was just going to be learning how to see the mid-zone run game. And, it took a while.
“I knew as soon as he could find the holes and understand the vision and the timing of this thing, because the talent is there. He’s been working hard. I don’t think there’s been a day he’s on the field that he’s not going 100 miles per hour. So, it’s fun to watch a guy that’s been so focused on learning this system and what to do, to watch him get to where he needs to be. And then there’s a point in every play where it’s like, okay, now you’re gifted, go do your thing.”
“I’ve got to get him to the right place first and he definitely has been gifted in that arena and has done some unbelievable things leading our team and making, turning some runs that should’ve been probably tackles for loss and turned them into big plays. And then there’s sometimes he’s not even touched for 20 yards and he always gives credit to those linemen and the receivers.”
“He’s still working hard and humble and that’s what will keep him there,” Lester said regarding Johnson’s determination and desire to be great.
Through four games, Kaleb Johnson has toted the rock 82 times for 683 yards, averaging an astounding 8.4 yards per carry and 171.3 yards per game. He has punched it into the endzone nine times.
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