The biggest head turner in Iowa’s initial depth chart reveal was redshirt freshman Kamari Moulton as the Hawkeyes’ No. 1 running back.
Moulton carried 27 times for 93 rushing yards with two scores last season. The 5-foot-9, 197 pound running back from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has been one of the Hawkeyes’ fast risers dating back to last December.
On Tuesday, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz discussed Moulton’s rapid ascension and detailed how Moulton has earned the Hawkeyes’ top spot on the running back depth chart.
Senior running back Leshon Williams, Iowa’s leading rusher in 2023, has been dealing with a nagging soft tissue injury throughout fall camp. Meanwhile, Moulton has made the most out of his opportunities.
Kirk Ferentz on Kamari Moulton ascending to No. 1 on the initial RB depth chart:
“He’s got a tremendous attitude, but he’s got real good vision, a good ability to see things maybe that other guys can’t see and that’s been pretty consistent.” pic.twitter.com/ytmgzTibmf
— Hawkeyes Wire (@HawkeyesWire) August 27, 2024
“Yeah, I figured that might get everybody’s attention, but it’s more a byproduct of what’s going on. Two things really. Leshon’s missed some time. He’s had an injury that nagged pretty much throughout camp, so Kamari got a lot of work this August.
“The other component there is Kamari’s really done a nice job and I think I kind of mentioned that or alluded to that back in December even. He really started to look comfortable and did a lot of good things. Did a good job in the spring and has just been really consistent all the way through August. They’re all going to play, but he’s really done a nice job,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz also touched on where he’s seen the biggest jumps from Moulton.
“Probably confidence. He’s had a great attitude since he’s been here. He’s got good vision. He’s bigger and stronger physically than he was certainly a year ago, a year-plus ago when he got here. All that’s good. That’s one of the benefits of experience, so happy about that.
“He’s got a tremendous attitude, but he’s got real good vision, a good ability to see things maybe that other guys can’t see and that’s been pretty consistent. It really started showing in December when we were doing more work with the guys. He had been on scout team most of the time last year. It seemed like he was maybe a guy who could pop through here a little bit. I think he’s certainly done that in August,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz noted that Williams has been back working with the Hawkeyes for multiple weeks and that he feels Williams is ready for game action.
The Hawkeyes’ 26th-year head coach is anxious to see the entire group get their season underway and knows that Iowa could need all four or five of its top running backs.
“Leshon’s only been back maybe eight, 10 days and it looks like he’s good to go, but it was just, he had a really long, nagging injury that just took a while to get worked through. Happy he’s back. And the other guys have done a good job, too. Really, I feel pretty good about the group. Anxious to see them play and Kamari especially. We haven’t really seen him go in game activity…
“Again, I envision us playing a lot of the guys in the group. Max White’s done a good job, too. So, I feel like it’s a good group that way. We’ll just kind of see how it plays out as we keep going forward and history would say we can never have too many backs. That’s for sure,” Ferentz said.
Williams led Iowa with 821 rushing yards on 170 carries and one rushing touchdown last season. Junior Kaleb Johnson added 463 rushing yards on 117 rushes with three rushing scores and sophomore Jaziun Patterson tallied 206 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 58 totes.
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