Iowa doesn't always lock up four- and five-star running back recruits in the backfield, but there is a reason they are consistently one of the best rushing teams in college football.
While glossing over Iowa's lack of quarterback consistency and dominant offensive line play for the moment, Kirk Ferentz and the program regularly find the best running backs who fit their system and develop them into All-Big Ten players. Iowa consistently gets the most of the talent they have, and one future Hawkeye is proving that overlooking him could cost a lot of teams.
2027 RB prospect Keyon Thomas ran wild in his first game of the 2026 season
Iowa's last three starting running backs, including Tyler Goodson, Kaleb Johnson, and Kamari Moulton, were all ranked as three-star prospects coming out of high school, proving that the program develops elite running backs, regardless of their ranking. Both Johnson and Goodson are trying to carve out roles in the NFL, while Moulton is poised to lead a talented running back room this season. The program didn't secure a running back commitment in the 2026 class, but quickly rectified that with a talented prospect from a college football factory in Indianapolis.
Warren Central High School prospect Keyon Thomas earned an offer from the Hawkeyes at the end of April, visited on June 12, and almost immediately committed to the program. After Warren Central's first game of the 2026 season, it is easy to see why the Hawkeyes have been so high on him.
Iowa RB commit @KeyonThomas08 had 18 carries for 130 yards and 2 TDs in his season opener on Friday https://t.co/hHKSVArSQQ pic.twitter.com/RZ3ZVQTWfK
— Blair Sanderson (@BlairASanderson) August 23, 2026
In the season opener, Thomas rushed for an impressive 130 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, showcasing his blazing speed and elite vision. Thomas was barely touched on his way into the end zone in the above clip, proving his speed is his biggest asset. Iowa has had speedy backs in the past, but Thomas brings a whole new element of speed into the backfield, and could easily make an immediate impact in 2027. It is somewhat surprising that Thomas is still ranked as a three-star prospect and Indiana's No. 15 overall prospect by Rivals, but that further proves that Iowa knows how to recruit solid running backs.
The Iowa program beat out Big Ten rivals Illinois and Michigan State for Thomas' commitment, and multiple teams will be kicking themselves for not giving him a better chance. Iowa's elite running back development was immediately a selling point for Thomas, who called Iowa the original "Running Back U," and he is proving that he could be one of the biggest steals in the 2027 class. New running back coach Jay Norvell hit a home run right away with Thomas and started his tenure with the Hawkeyes very strongly.
Thomas is a speedy, powerful running back who has shown he can be a workhorse in the backfield, something the Iowa program highly values, and if he stays healthy there is no question that Norvell and the Iowa offense or special teams will find an immediate use for him during his first season on campus in 2027.
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