Former University of Iowa running back Ladell Betts, the second leading rusher in Iowa football history, is in his fourth year as running backs coach after being named to the position in March, 2021.
In 2023, the Hawkeyes won 10 games, including their final four, to capture the Big Ten West Division for the second time in three years. Iowa advanced to another January bowl game (Citrus Bowl) and finished the season ranked No. 24. LeShon WIlliams led the squad in rushing with 821 yards in 2023. He became the 52nd player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career yards. Williams rushed for a personal-high 174 yards, including a game-winning 82-yard score, in Iowa’s win at Wisconsin. Iowa’s top five running backs are expected to return in 2024: Williams, Kaleb Johnson, Jaziun Patterson, Kamari Moulton and Terrell Wahington Jr.
Iowa won eight contests in 2022, concluding the season with a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl and wins in five of its final six games. True freshman Kaleb Johnson led Iowa’s ground game in 2022, rushing for a freshman-record 779 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson earned Freshman All-America recognition while also averaging 25 yards on 13 kickoff returns. Sophomore Leshon Williams supported the rushing attack with 413 yards.
In his first season on the Hawkeye staff, Betts coached junior Tyler Goodson, who led the Iowa rushing attack with 1,151 yards and six touchdowns, while also collecting 247 receiving yards and one touchdown. Goodson earned third-team all-conference honors after leading Iowa in rushing for the third straight season. Goodson, who declared for the NFL Draft, ranks 10th in career rushing with 2,551 yards. Goodson signed a free agent contract with Green Bay immediately following the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the final national rankings.