The Iowa running back room will look different to start the 2025 season. Iowa has three returning backs and they have big shoes to fill.
Kaleb Johnson was Iowa's workhorse back last season, and he left for the NFL Draft. Last season, Johnson racked up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries. He also had 188 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 22 receptions.
Iowa will not be able to replace Johnson, but the current running back room has potential. The media is not allowed to view the practices for a large portion of spring and the Iowa program keeps news tight to the vest.
Here is what we know about the current depth chart and projections for the 2025 season.
Kamari Moulton (starter)
The 2025 spring depth chart was released on March 27 with Kamari Moulton as the starter. Moulton served as one of the backups last season to starter Kaleb Johnson.
The five-foot-nine, 197-pound running back from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, had a productive sophomore season. During the 2024 season, Moulton rushed for 473 yards (5.6 yards-per-carry average) and three touchdowns on 84 carries.
Moulton edged out fellow backup Jaziun Patterson in carries 84 to 63.
Moulton shares similarities with former running back Kaleb Johnson. He is a big back who excels at running between the tackles. He was projected to split carries with Johnson last season, but Johnson became the workhorse early on.
Mouton and Patterson will compete for an increased workload during the 2025 season. Moulton has a slight edge due to Patterson's recovery from an injury.
Jaziun Patterson (backup)
Junior running back Jaziun Patterson is currently the projected backup for Kamari Moulton. He is currently rehabbing an injury and has not practiced in full pads.
Patterson burst onto the scene in 2022 as a freshman. He received 14 carries for 47 yards in a crowded backfield in 2022. Injuries and the emergence of Kaleb Johnson limited his carries over the past few seasons.
Last season, Patterson rushed for 309 yards (4.9 yards-per-carry average) and two touchdowns on 63 carries. He suffered an undisclosed injury mid-way through the season and deferred backup carries to Moulton.
Patterson is a good change-of-pace back who excels in the open field. He will fight with Moulton for carries this season as they are 1a and 1b on the depth chart.
Terrell Washington Jr. (depth)
Sophomore running back Terrell Washington Jr. is the only other running back on the roster with college experience. In 2024, he rushed for 34 yards on 12 carries in a limited reserve role.
Washington rushed for 50 yards on nine carries in 2023.
Washington aims to receive more carries in 2025 with a more expanded role. He will battle true freshman Nathan McNeil and redshirt freshmen Brevin Doll and Xavier Willams for depth carries.
Nathan McNeil (depth)
True freshman Nathan McNeil is an interesting player to watch during spring practice. McNeil was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 96 overall running back in the 2024 recruiting class. McNeil was an early enrollee.
McNeil is a dual-threat running back who can run and catch the football. During his senior year, McNeil rushed for 1,072 yards (7.7 yards-per-carry average) and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 483 and 6 touchdowns.
McNeil was recruited by former Iowa running backs coach Ladell Betts and stayed with the program after Betts took a similar job with the New York Giants.
With Jaziun Patterson (injury) and Brevin Doll on the sidelines during the Hawkeyes' Thursday practice, McNeil got some reps with the first-team offense. McNeil can give Iowa a pass-catching threat out of the backfield and handle some depth carries.
Iowa also has Xavier William and Brevin Doll on their roster as depth options.
New running backs coach Omar Young was at practice on Thursday and has some big decisions to make before the roster is finalized.