Kaleb Johnson surfacing as a Heisman contender after week four

MINNEAPOLIS — Iowa’s junior running back is having a spectacular campaign this season, and coming off a monster performance in last Saturday’s victory at Minnesota.

Kaleb Johnson raised several eyebrows with his explosiveness against the Golden Gophers, after he rushed for a season-high, 206 yards and three touchdowns. He looked like a bulldozer the way he steamrolled defenders throughout the evening, and averaged a jaw-dropping, 9.8 yards per carry.

This wasn’t no fluke outing either, considering Johnson has eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards every game this season. Not to mention he currently leads the FBS, with 685 yards on the ground through four games. Johnson also ranks in the top-10 nationally in scoring, rushing touchdowns, and yards per carry.

The Ohio native has basically been Iowa’s entire offense so far, and Coach Kirk Ferentz believes the best is yet to come for Johnson as the team navigate through Big Ten play.

“I’m not sure I remember anybody in four games that has done what he’s doing, and he continues to run really well,” Ferentz said. “He’s been aggressive, he always been a strong guy, but right now he’s really focusing and I think he’s coming into his own in terms of using what strengths and abilities he has to his advantage.”

The Big Ten has a plethora of elite running backs, but Johnson is clearly starting to separate himself from the others. The six-foot, 225-pounder doesn’t have a problem with being the workhorse either. However, Ferentz wants to utilize his backfield and keep Johnson fresh, so Jaziun Patterson is also getting a piece of the action.

The rushing attack appears to be Iowa’s recipe for success on offense, especially with quarterback Cade McNamara struggling to throw the ball. Fans were surprised to see that the Hawkeyes kept pounding Johnson, even after they fell behind by seven points at halftime on the road.

Johnson appeared to get stronger with every carry, and in return that softened up Minnesota’s defensive line. He even earned Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for his heroics in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. Regardless of the national recognition, Johnson feels he wouldn’t be having this success without the play of the offensive line.

“It’s all because of them, they were just wearing down the defensive line and linebackers, opened holes and I just took off,” Johnson said. “So Kaleb Johnson is just doing what Kaleb Johnson does.”

Johnson remains confident, but isn’t taking anything for granted, and remembers missing four games because of injuries last year. Which is why he’s treating every carry like it’s his last. Minnesota’s defense didn’t allow a single point in week two and three, but couldn’t stand a chance at stopping Johnson, and he made a statement on national television.

“It feels great because last season I was injured and didn’t perform, so I was hurt that we lost, I took it personal, everybody took it very personal, especially me, I wanted to win,” he said. “So I just put the team on my back, and my o-line helped me open them holes up, and we came away with the win.”

Johnson wants to rush for more yards, which solidifies that he doesn’t want to be complacent. The former four-star prospect plans on building off his stellar outing, and expects the offense to iron out all of the wrinkles during the bye-week. Iowa (3-1) will resume Big Ten play on the road at Ohio State, so Johnson and his teammates are eager to prove their ground game is legit.

Johnson has the vision to hit the holes at the right time, the power to trample linebackers, the speed to outrun defensive backs, and soft hands to catch passes out of the backfield. There’s no denying that he’s molding himself into a complete running back, and capturing everyone’s attention with his production.

If the rusher has another memorable performance against a top-three Buckeye team, and the Hawkeyes pull off an upset, Johnson will likely be the front-runner for the Heisman. The 21-year old understands it’s still a long season, what’s currently at stake, and how the Hawkeyes are going to keep battling to earn their respect.

“We’re never comfortable or satisfied, we always want more, and now we got a bye-week, we’re going to focus on Ohio State, so the job isn’t done.”