University of Iowa Athletics
RB

#2 Kaleb Johnson

Height 6-0
Weight 222 lbs.
Class Jr.
Hometown Hamilton, Ohio
High School Hamilton
Kaleb Johnson - Football - University of Iowa Athletics

Hawk Item – – Has 1,242 rushing yards on 268 carries, which ranks 36th in program history… became the 51st player in school history to rush for over 1,000 career yards… has four 100+ yard rushing games in his career… set Iowa freshman rushing record with 779 yards… rushed for 200 yards in win at Purdue, second highest single-game total by an Iowa freshman and 18th best total in program history… first true freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a game since Tyler Goodson, 2019.

2023 Honors – – Preseason third-team All-Big Ten kick returner by Phil Steele… preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports… Doak Walker preseason Candidate… Next Man in Award, offense… 2023 – – Started at running back in five games, playing in 10… missed three games due to injury… rushed 117 times for 463 yards (4.0 yards per carry avg., 46.3 yards per game avg.) and three touchdowns, with a long rush of 67 yards, on the season… rushed 19 times for 63 yards and one touchdown in season-opening 24-14 win over Utah State… also returned game-opening kickoff for a career-high 54 yards vs. Utah State to set up first touchdown pass of the season… rushed 17 times for 134 yards and one touchdown, including a long of 67 yards, in 20-14 win vs. Purdue… had 17 rushes for 35 yards and caught one pass for four yards in 15-6 win at Wisconsin… rushed 15 times for 28 yards and returned one kickoff for 23 yards in 20-13 win at Iowa State… rushed 10 times for 53 yards, including a long rush of 30 yards that scored the go-ahead touchdown in 15-13 win over Illinois… rushed 10 times for 54 yards with a long rush of 27 yards in 22-0 win over Rutgers… rushed 10 times for 30 yards (long of eight yards) in 13-10 win at Nebraska… letterwinner.

2022 Honors – – Next Man In Award, offense… Next Man in Award, special teams… honorable mention Freshman All-America by College Football News… honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media… named Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week for his play in win at Purdue… 2022 – – Saw action in all 13 games, starting six games… rushed 151 times for 779 yards (5.2 yard avg.) and six touchdowns, which led the team.. returned 13 kickoffs for 325 yards (25.0 yard avg.), which also led the team… the 779 rushing yards ranks 37th for most yards in a season in program history and set an Iowa freshman record… set career-high marks with 22 rushing attempts for 200 yards and one touchdown in 24-3 win at Purdue… 75-yard touchdown run on second play of third quarter was longest for Iowa since 2020… also had career highs with two receptions for 17 yards… led rushing attack with 22 carries for 57 yards in 24-10 win over Wisconsin, including a four-yard touchdown… also had one reception for three yards… tallied 16 rushing attempts for 109 yards in 24-17 loss to Nebraska, including a 44-yard touchdown run… also had two kickoff returns for 54 yards… led rushing attack with 103 yards on seven attempts in 27-0 win over Nevada, with touchdown runs of 40 and 55 yards… also recorded one pass reception for seven yards and one kickoff return for 19 yards… had 15 rushing attempts for 58 yards in 27-10 win at Rutgers, with a long of nine yards… also had 77 yards on two kickoff returns, with a long of 42 yards… posted 12 rushing attempts for 32 yards and one touchdown vs. in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan, with a long of 12 yards… touchdown came on two-yard run in fourth quarter… one kickoff return for 13 yards vs. Michigan… rushed 13 times for 93 yards in 33-13 win over Northwestern, with a long of 18 yards… one of eight true freshmen to see action… letterwinner.

 

High school honors – – Earned first-team all-state honors as a senior… first-team all-conference as a junior… honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore… AP Scholar and Honor Roll student as a prep… Career – – Three-year football letterman as running back… helped prep team reach state playoffs as a junior and senior… 155 rushing attempts for 1,004 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior… 114 carries for 786 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior… 878 yards and nine touchdowns on 141 rushing attempts as a sophomore… 140 rushing attempts for 631 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman… team captain as a junior and senior… also competed in basketball and track as a prep.

Personal – – Born 8/14/2003 in Cincinnati… information technology major… mother is Juanielle Finley and grandfather is Jeffery Strader… high school coach was Nate Mahon.