Somewhere in Iowa, a Minnesota fan is having nightmares about Kaleb Johnson running all over the Golden Gophers' defense.
Johnson was a workhorse for the Iowa offense in 2024 before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he was the only reason Iowa had a semblance of an offense that season.
Johnson's combination of power and deceptive speed made him a difficult player to bring down between the tackles or in space, as he compiled 1,537 rushing yards and a program record 21 rushing touchdowns.
A few years after Johnson left the program, the Hawkeyes may have found a similar player via South Dakota and the transfer portal.
South Dakota All-American RB L.J. Phillips Jr. is set to visit Iowa this week, his reps @thebizofathlete tells @mzenitz and me.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 7, 2026
The 5-foot-9, 225-pound RB ran for a FCS-best 1,920 yards along with 19 TDs this season. https://t.co/66ekytFcua pic.twitter.com/G06OB5PJze
According to CBS Sports' Chris Hummer, South Dakota running back L.J. Phillips is scheduled to visit Iowa City this week.
Before entering the transfer portal, Phillips was an FCS All-American for the South Dakota Coyotes last season, after rushing for a league-best 1,920 yards and 19 touchdowns.
His impressive 1,920 rushing yards would have easily been the most since Johnson's 1,537 in 2024, and the most in Iowa program history, surpassing Shonn Greene's 1,850 rushing yards in 2008.
Phillips is similar in size (five-foot-nine, 225 pounds) to Kaleb Johnson and would give the Hawkeyes an excellent backfield combination with projected starter Kamari Moulton.
Iowa could have a "Sonic and Knuckles" backfield next season
The Detroit Lions are one of the few NFL organizations that heavily rely on their rushing attack for success, and have two starting-caliber running backs on the roster.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have been affectionately dubbed "Sonic and Knuckles" for their speed and power combination, and the Hawkeyes could have that next season with L.J. Phillips and Kamari Moulton.
Moulton would be Knuckles for his strength and ability to run between the tackles, and Phillips would be Sonic for his speed and his abilities on the outside.
Iowa is currently loaded up with powerful running backs who excel at running up the middle behind a stout offensive line, and Phillips could give the Iowa offense a new speed element that it has been missing in the backfield.
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