Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been on a tear to start the 2024 campaign.
As the Hawkeyes jump into Big Ten play, Johnson currently leads the nation in rushing through Iowa’s first three games.
The 6-foot, 225 pound running back has eclipsed the century mark in every game thus far this season and currently sits at 479 rushing yards through the first three weeks of the Hawkeyes’ season. That’s in front of Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty who has rushed for 459 yards in the Broncos’ first two games of the 2024 season.
Despite missing the first half due to suspension, Johnson still carried 11 times for 119 yards with a pair of scores in Iowa’s 40-0 season-opening win versus Illinois State.
Then, against Iowa State, Johnson rushed 25 times for 187 yards with two more trips to the end zone. Finally, this past weekend versus Troy, Johnson toted the rock 25 more times for 173 yards and two more touchdowns.
Kaleb Johnson leads the nation in Rushing Yards after running for 173 Yards and scoring 2 TD’s in Saturday’s @HawkeyeFootball win. 🫡
📍 TIAA #WinWithAPurpose pic.twitter.com/jS0pGRUIR8
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 15, 2024
It’s pretty incredible what the Hamilton, Ohio, product is doing. Johnson already has seven rushes this season of 25-plus yards and he has a trio of touchdowns of 25-plus yards.
Johnson has always been explosive and capable of delivering the big play in a hurry, but he’s been earning the tough yardage this season, too.
“My first two years here, I was so used to just using my speed on people because that’s how it was in high school. Now, just me knowing that people are faster than me, it kind of hurt a little bit, because I’m used to just outrunning everybody. Now, it’s just me knowing that and me putting my strength, using my strength and putting my feet and my head down and just going,” Johnson said of how his game has developed.
Johnson’s electric start to the 2024 season has not been lost on his head coach either.
“There are some guys I am really pleased with. Stating the obvious, Kaleb Johnson is playing his best football right now. Obviously he’s getting yards, but the way he’s running right now is really encouraging,” Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said Saturday after the win over Troy.
Johnson is the first Hawkeye running back since Jordan Canzeri in 2015 to rush for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games and is the first Hawkeye to tally two or more touchdowns in three straight games since LeShun Daniels, Jr., in 2015.
Johnson will look to keep his explosive start to the season rolling as the Hawkeyes begin Big Ten play this coming Saturday at Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC.
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