Kaleb Johnson, a running back from Iowa, put himself on the map after a stellar 2024 campaign. He quickly showed the world that he could be one of the best in the nation and built upon an already strong college playing career. There’s no question that Johnson has the potential to be taken off the board early on in this year’s NFL Draft, so let’s take a deeper look at him.
Height: 6 ft – 0 in
Weight: 225 lb
Age: 21
Position: Running Back
College: Iowa
Draft Eligibility: Declared
College Career Summary:
When he was a freshman in 2022, Johnsson was able to set Iowa’s freshman rushing record with 779 yards. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to build upon that season straight away thanks to a few injuries during his sophomore campaign, though he still managed a solid year, nonetheless. He had 117 rushes for 463 yards and three touchdowns, a noticeable step-down. However, he didn’t let that affect his performance on the field, nor did he allow that to deter him from pursuing his NFL dreams. In 2024, he showed the world what he could do with over 1,500 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns. Without him, Iowa would have been noticeably worse off. He displayed phenomenal big-play ability, ripping off nine runs over 25 yards and two runs over 50 yards in just a four-game span. He also averaged roughly 8.5 yards per carry throughout the season. He might not have the most accolades under his belt, but that doesn’t mean he is without any. He’s been named a Consensus All-American for his efforts in 2024, along with getting named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year and lastly got added to the First-Team All-Big Ten.
2024 Season
Games Played: 12
Yards: 1,537 rushing, 188 receiving
Touchdowns: 21 rushing, two receiving
Career Stats:
- 508 rush attempts
- 2,779 rushing yards
- 32 total touchdowns
- 35 games played
- 15 kick returns for 402 yards
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 5 yards per carry throughout his career
- 29 career receptions for 240 yards
- 3 receiving yards per game
Strengths:
- Phenomenal Ball Carrier Vision
- Consistently Falls Forward
- Can Operate In Multiple Run Systems/Schemes
- Patient Runner
- Can Be Effective As A Pass Catcher
- Workhorse Back Potential
Weaknesses:
- Below Average Long Speed
- Refinement Necessary In Pass Protection
- Can Miss Cutback Opportunities Due To Limited Lateral Agility
- Not A Strong Route Tree Out Of The Backfield
- Form Changes When Fatigued
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Kaleb Johnson competed in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in 2023 against the 21-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Unfortunately, that game simply didn’t go Johnson’s way, with him taking just seven carries and turning them into 34 scoreless yards during a 35-0 blowout loss. In fairness though, the game was so out of hand early that Iowa abandoned any hope that they had in their rushing attack. That same year, Johnson also competed in the Big Ten Championship against Michigan, number two ranked Michigan at that. Iowa lost that game as well in a similar fashion, 26-0, and Johnson had six carries for 14 scoreless yards. In both of those high-pressure games, he didn’t see himself or the team performing well. Going further back into 2022, Iowa competed against UK in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, a game that they won 21-0. Johnson didn’t contribute much there either, rushing nine times for 17 scoreless yards. Iowa didn’t get a bowl game in 2024. All in all, throughout three years of college competition, Johnson doesn’t currently have a big-time showing in a high-pressure game. Some of that boils down to the level of competition and his team, but the facts remain, nonetheless.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
Kaleb Johnson might have struggled during some bowl games or Big Ten Championship performances, but that doesn’t mean he can’t succeed at the next level. As of right now, Johnson is projected to be one of the best running backs in the upcoming draft class. He isn’t ranked above someone like Ashton Jeanty, though most draft sites are ranking him around that 2-4 range. As it stands currently, he isn’t projected to be a first-round draft pick either, mostly due to the fact that running back isn’t as heavy as a need for most teams. Plus, any team that might be fiending enough for a running back above all else will target Jeanty if given the change in the first. That leaves Johnson with the potential to be a high second-draft pick for a team in need of an explosive playmaker. In terms of fantasy football, this is one of those players that you would want to target. Given that he might be taken in the second round, there’s potential for him to land in a fairly decent offense straight away due to trading up being easier to accomplish. Wherever he ends up landing, he’s going to be one of the better running back options in fantasy football when it comes to rookies. The reason he could get a step above the rest is due to his pass-catching skills. Of course, his route tree isn’t very strong, but he has been able to develop his game through the air as the years have progressed. Throw him into a solid system that can help him learn to improve that area of his game, and Johnson becomes a big-play machine in fantasy.
There will be a concern about whether or not he can contribute at the NFL level straight away. Luckily for him, he’s a couple of things to help him do exactly that. First of all, we’ve seen him compete in the Big Ten at a high level, with a physical running style that should allow him to get some early-season touches at the next level. On top of that, I’ll continue to harp on the fact that he is at least a “capable” pass catcher who might be thrown onto the field more due to his skills there. To wrap all of this together, the simple fact that he can be played as a workhorse with high levels of durability should give teams confidence in selecting him. There’s a chance he can be a first-round pick, but early second-round feels about right.