Tag: Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson delivers ‘100 percent’ performance against Purdue

The return of Kaleb Johnson was pivotal for Iowa in its 20-14 win over Purdue. The sophomore says he’s feeling 100 percent now.

For an offense in desperate need of a spark, sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson provided just that.

The 6-foot, 222 pound running back from Hamilton, Ohio, returned from an ankle injury and jumpstarted the Hawkeyes’ offense from the get-go.

After missing games versus Western Michigan, at Penn State and versus Michigan State, Johnson was back in the fold versus Purdue. His much-needed return got Iowa on the scoreboard quickly.

On the Hawkeyes’ second series and on his third touch in the game, Johnson took a carry to the left right through the middle of the Boilermakers’ defense and went untouched for a 67-yard touchdown scamper.

By day’s end, Johnson finished with 17 carries for 134 yards. The sophomore must really like suiting it up against Purdue. Last season in West Lafayette, Ind., Johnson racked up a career-high 200 rushing yards on 22 carries with a score in Iowa’s 24-3 win over Purdue.

“It means a lot, because during fall camp my ankle hurting was really affecting me and my game. After the healing process, I feel 100 percent now. I feel really good,” Johnson said afterwards.

As he nursed his way back from injury, Johnson leaned on his family and teammates.

“My family and my teammates motivating me and encouraging me to stay on top of my treatments. I was down and hurt, and I was sad to be out, but they kept me encouraged and told me what to do. I was able to get it done,” Johnson said.

Though he was disappointed to be sidelined, Johnson said he was happy to see his teammates’ successes. That included a 145-yard rushing day for junior Leshon Williams against Western Michigan.

“I was hurting inside, but at the same time, I was cheering on Leshon Williams and all of the other running backs, because they are like family to me. So, I love to see them progressing, too,” Johnson said.

Now, Johnson is back healthy and figures to be a key cog for Iowa’s offense the rest of the way in 2023.

That’s great news, too, because one of Iowa’s toughest challenges to date is on deck next week as the Hawkeyes travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers in a key Big Ten West date at 3 p.m. CT on Fox on Saturday, Oct. 14.

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Running back Kaleb Johnson returns to practice for the Iowa Hawkeyes

Lead back Kaleb Johnson has returned to practice for the Iowa Hawkeyes after a few weeks out. His return could be instrumental for Iowa.

The Iowa Hawkeyes got a big boost in the backfield. Lead running back Kaleb Johnson returned to practice after being sidelined for a few weeks due to an ankle injury of sorts. His return was reported by David Eickholt of 247Sports on Twitter as he spoke to fellow running back Leshon Williams.

“He look like Kaleb,” Williams told Eickholt today when discussing Johnson’s return to the field.

It is unknown if Johnson will be able to suit up and go against Purdue this upcoming Saturday, although he may be chomping at the bit after his performance against the Boilermakers last year. As a freshman, Johnson torched Purdue for 200 yards and a touchdown in West Lafayette.

If Johnson can return to form, he will provide the most experience behind Leshon Williams to a backfield that is relatively young. Johnson’s 779 yards and six rushing touchdowns led the Hawkeyes in 2022.

His talents would be welcomed with very open arms as Iowa is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry on the season. He would bolster Iowa’s backfield and be an extremely solid half of a duo paired with Leshon Williams who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and leads the Hawkeyes with 211 yards on the ground this season.

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Iowa releases Week 4 availability report ahead of Penn State contest

The Iowa Hawkeyes released their availability report ahead of tonight’s matchup at Penn State.

The No. 22 Iowa Hawkeyes boot up Big Ten play in a big way tonight as they invade Beaver Stadium to take on No. 7 Penn State.

It’s the Nittany Lions’ annual White Out night where everyone in the crowd wears white. That tends to rev up an already-excitable Happy Valley faithful to another notch. The Hawkeyes decided to mix things up and wear black for the occasion.

There’s plenty of keys and questions entering the contest. Namely, how does Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara perform and can the Hawkeyes’ offense muster up enough to swing the upset?

Those questions will soon be answered. Ahead of the contest, Iowa released its Week 4 availability report.

As Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz noted in his press conference earlier this week, running backs Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson are listed as out for tonight’s contest.

Patterson was a key figure in Iowa’s Week 2 win over Iowa State, rushing for 86 yards and a score on 10 carries in the Hawkeyes’ 20-13 Cy-Hawk victory. Meanwhile, Johnson was Iowa’s leading rusher last season, tallying 779 rushing yards and six scores during his freshman campaign.

Of course, Ferentz revealed earlier this week that star junior tight end Luke Lachey would likely miss the remainder of the season as he deals with a “significant injury.”

Joining the two backs and Lachey as out on the availability report are redshirt freshmen wide receivers Jacob Bostick and Reese Osgood, junior offensive lineman Asher Fahey and senior defensive lineman Chris Reames.

Iowa kicks off at Penn State at 6:40 p.m. CT on CBS.

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RB Kaleb Johnson listed ‘out’ in Iowa’s weekly availability report

Hawkeye sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson is listed as “out” in Iowa’s weekly availability report.

The Iowa Hawkeyes released their Week 3 availability report ahead of this afternoon’s showdown against Western Michigan at 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network from Kinnick Stadium.

There’s several notable developments on the availability report in the final nonconference contest of the 2023 season for Iowa.

First, after sitting as “questionable” on each of the season’s first two availability reports, Hawkeye starting quarterback Cade McNamara isn’t on this Week 3 availability report. That’s a great sign for the senior signal-caller from Reno, Nev.

McNamara said earlier this week that he’s feeling as good physically as he has in a month’s time. Through two games, the Michigan transfer has completed 29-of-52 passes for 314 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

Secondly, sophomore running back Kaleb Johnson is listed as “out” in the Week 3 availability report. For this week, that may be the most notable availability development.

Redshirt freshmen wide receivers Jacob Bostick and Reese Osgood, junior offensive lineman Asher Fahey and senior defensive lineman Chris Reames join Johnson among Hawkeyes listed as “out.” Sophomore linebacker Jaxon Rexroth is also listed as “questionable.”

The good news for Iowa in its backfield is the emergence of redshirt freshman running back Jaziun Patterson.

The 5-foot-10, 204 pound running back carried 10 times last week for 86 yards versus Iowa State, including his 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The Pompano Beach, Fla., product busted off a 59-yard run on the Hawkeyes’ first possession.

Junior running back Leshon Williams also figures to see a significant share of the workload versus Western Michigan. The 5-foot-10, 208 pound junior has 500 rushing yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns during his Hawkeye career.

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6 days to kickoff: 6 bold predictions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023

It has officially become game week and there are just six days to kickoff. Here are six bold predictions for the Hawkeyes in 2023.

It is game week. For the first time in over nine months, it is time to get ready for the Iowa Hawkeyes to strap up their helmets and play a game inside Kinnick Stadium. The buzz around this team is palpable this year and there is a sense of urgency for Iowa to perform with the immensely talented roster they have. The schedule is set up nicely, the Big Ten realignment hasn’t occurred yet, and this is Iowa’s chance to show something.

To perform at those levels and live up to their expectations, it is going to take some primetime efforts from primetime players. Each year a few select individuals step up, some units come together when it matters most, and teams find a way to win.

With the 2023 college football season just six days away for the Hawkeyes, the countdown is truly on now. As we approach kickoff, today looks into six bold predictions for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.

Kaleb Johnson bringing the power with new NIL sponsorship

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson earned a signature NIL deal, signing with Powerade for their “It Takes More” campaign.

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson has inked his first major sponsorship. The sophomore was one of five athletes announced to sign with Powerade on an NIL deal.

The sponsorship marks the sports drink brand’s largest NIL push yet in the college football world. Powerade has been a sponsor of the NCAA since 2010, with partnerships at more than 20 schools.

The Coca-Cola Company launched its first NIL campaign during this spring’s March Madness, signing contracts with 37 men’s and women’s college basketball players.  This latest venture signifies the brand’s push to be “synonymous” with college football.

As the official hydration partner for many big-time programs, we want Powerade to be synonymous with college football – and there was no better way than to team up with several of the best athletes in the country for our newest campaign.

These top players embody who we are as a brand, putting in the work in hopes of getting to the next level. Given the huge reach of college football, we’re excited to tap into that network of fans and consumers to showcase that POWERADE offers more than the competition. – Tom Gargiulo, Body Armour’s chief marketing officer.

Kaleb Johnson was one of five college football stars to sign NIL deals with Powerade. He joins Florida State‘s Jared Verse, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Georgia cornerback Malaki Starks, and USC wide receiver Mario Williams. The five will take part in Powerade’s “It Takes More” campaign.

According to Sports Business Journal, the first 30-second spot will air Sept. 3, with subsequent spots to follow. They will release two 30-second ads, with 15-second ones to follow focusing on the athletes and their respective school traditions. The brand is calling the campaign their largest marketing campaign in college football, with planned ads on TV, digital, radio, and social media.

Watch Johnson’s feature from Powerade below.

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Ground attack: Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List

After a dazzling freshman campaign, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List.

Running the ball well is something that the Iowa Hawkeyes have long prided themselves on. Block well up front and hand it off to a strong running back to wear down defenses.

Luckily, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson is not only strong but brings speed as well to provide the full package. The sophomore running back is looking to expand on a freshman season that saw him prove to be a catalyst for Iowa’s ground game. His expectations and talent have landed him on the Doak Walker Award Watch List ahead of the 2023 college football season.

The Doak Walker Award is handed out each year to the most outstanding running back in college football. Some of the past winners are highly-touted running backs. Last year saw Bijan Robinson of the Texas Longhorns and recent first-round NFL draft pick take home the award. Featured alongside him as finalists included two Big Ten running backs, Illinois’ Chase Brown and Michigan’s Blake Corum.

Kaleb Johnson was outstanding for Iowa in his freshman year as he set the Iowa freshman rushing record with 779 yards. Johnson averaged 5.16 yards per carry and found the endzone six times. He played a minor role in the passing game with four receptions for just 27 yards, although Iowa could look to capitalize on that this upcoming season.

Expect Johnson to get the bulk of the work this year as Iowa’s lead back as he works to top his already stellar freshman season.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Positional Breakdown: Scouting the running backs

Iowa football is all about running the rock. The next piece of our positional preview series features the Hawkeyes’ running backs.

Iowa football is running the football. While the rest of the Big Ten and college football world may be demonstrating a philosophy change, Iowa’s viewpoint hasn’t wavered. They will continue to play and win the same way they have for years now. They play tough defense and they run the ball at will against you on offense.

Unfortunately, they haven’t been running the ball at will in recent years. They’ve posted some of their lowest rushing numbers over the past two seasons, and have looked outmatched at times against top defenses. Part of this is due to the offensive scheme by Ferentz, partly by the offensive line, and partly by the passing attack having no bite to it. Iowa has asked a lot out of its running game, and there’s only so much it can do given the competition that they face in the Big Ten.

There is absolutely talent in this running back room, though. In particular, Kaleb Johnson. A true freshman last year, Johnson showed star potential for the Hawkeyes. Here is a look at the running backs ahead of the 2023 season.

Former Rutgers football player is gaining NFL coaching experience

Ex-Rutgers Kaleb Johnson will gain NFL coaching experience when he takes part in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.

Former Scarlet Knight offensive lineman Kaleb Johnson will have the opportunity to gain NFL coaching experience when he takes part in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.

The Jacksonville native will participate in this NFL fellowship program, learning from Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and his coaching staff.

This offseason, Johnson left Rutgers football where he spent the last three seasons as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He is now on staff at Florida.

Johnson joined the staff for organized team activities (OTAs), with opportunities to learn from different offensive position groups throughout his stay with the Jaguars.

What is the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program?

The Bill Walsh Fellowship program allows minority coaches to learn and participate in an NFL setting. All 32 NFL teams participate in the program, with several active coaches receiving positions after participating. To qualify for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program, you can be a former NFL player or have coaching experience in high school, college, or pro football.

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Johnson’s playing and coaching career

Johnson played for seven NFL teams in four seasons from 2015-18. While at Rutgers (2011-14), Johnson was a four-year starter and played in 50 straight games for the Scarlet Knights, two seasons under current head coach Greg Schiano. Johnson was a two-time all-conference selection in 2012 and 2014. Also, he won the Iron Knight Award for exceptionally high mental and physical toughness throughout his career.

Johnson spent several seasons on the Rutgers coaching staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and now works at the University of Florida as a quality control offensive assistant.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2023 Snapshot Profile: No. 2 Kaleb Johnson

What’s next for Kaleb Johnson at running back in 2023? Is he officially a star for the Hawkeyes and in the Big Ten? His snapshot profile.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will always be about running the ball. Until an entirely new set of leaders at the top of the football team and athletic department are put in, this is who the Hawks are.

The mentality has been the same: strong running to pair with stifling defense. Over the years for Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz, this mentality has worked. It would be a lot easier to rattle off the years under Ferentz in which Iowa was bad versus the opposite. By following the fundamentals of the game, this team has won a lot and will look to continue doing so.

Last year, the offense took a hit from the year prior. While all of the numbers were down in 2021, they still had a talented back in Tyler Goodson to overcome some of those issues. Last year, there was a big change. Goodson departed for the NFL, as did first-round center Tyler Linderbaum. Iowa had even more to figure out with its running game.

Early on, it looked as though the Iowa running game was going to be miserable in 2022. At times, because of the line and scheme simply not working, it was. However, a shining star in the backfield was able to overcome a lot of those issues and put the team on his back despite his young age.

Enter Kaleb Johnson.

Though just a freshman, the Hamilton, Ohio, native showed all of the potential in the world his freshman year. He could break off the big touchdown, and, when given the keys to the offense, he excelled.

He’s going to need help from the boys up front, but Johnson could be something special over the next two years in Iowa City.

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