All of the meaningful production in Iowa’s running back room returns for the 2023 season. Behind an improved offensive line, these running backs have the talent to have a very good season. The offense added some skill position players in the transfer portal to help spread the ball around and open up run lanes for this group. The three listed on the depth chart will all get on the field this year, but the starter has a chance for a special season in 2023.
Iowa Depth Chart Dive: Running Back
Kaleb Johnson
It all starts with the ball in the hands of true sophomore Kaleb Johnson. Last year, he had an 800-yard season with six touchdowns as a true freshman. The bulk of his production came in the back half of the year where he started six of the team’s final seven games. One of which was at Purdue, where Johnson had a breakout performance. He rushed for 200 yards and scored a touchdown, averaging 9.1 yards per carry. On the season, Johnson had three 100-plus-yard games.
Heading into 2023, he will continue to get the bulk of the carries for this offense. Johnson is a downhill back with solid speed and the ability to make defenders miss. If this offense plays to its potential this fall, Johnson will have a 1000-plus-yard season and could see himself getting some All-Conference honors. He has the talent to be named with the top backs in the Big Ten.
Leshon Williams
The number two running back for Iowa this year is Leshon Williams. He started four of Iowa’s first five games last season before Johnson emerged as the team’s starter. In 12 games played last year, Williams forced 25 missed tackles and had nine runs of 10 or more yards. It was a 400-yard season for Williams and he scored two touchdowns. He will be heading into his redshirt junior season this fall and has played in 15 games over his career in Iowa City. Listed as the second-string running back, Williams will get a solid amount of touches throughout the season and will be a reliable number-two runner.
Jaz Patterson
One of the highly-touted 2022 recruits was Jaz Patterson, who saw the field a few times as a true freshman last season. He only played in three games with a total of 14 attempts for 47 yards, but he showed a burst in his small sample set. That included a 17-yard explosive run in the bowl game against Kentucky. Kirk Ferentz has alluded to this run a few times this offseason when explaining his expectations for Patterson this season.
He’ll start the year at the number three spot on the depth chart, but could really push to see the field more extensively. The true sophomore has exceptional twitch and explosiveness as a running back and will be a great option at the third string. It would not be surprising to see him get on the field to bring a different element to the backfield.
Iowa Running Back Depth
Looking deeper on the roster, Iowa has Terrell Washington Jr. who enrolled early this spring as a true freshman. He was a three-star prospect in the class of 2023. He originally committed to Purdue before Iowa offered him in December of 2022. The Texas native also ran track in high school and has great speed.
