College football fans know that one thing that Iowa has struggled with over the past several seasons is getting offensive yards.
However, one of the consistent areas of concern that has persisted throughout Kirk Ferentz's tenure at Iowa is the running game.
Last season, the Hawkeyes had the No. 22 rushing offense in the FBS, averaging 194.7 rushing yards per game.
The success of the running game was due in large part to Kaleb Johnson, who has left the Hawkeyes to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the NFL draft.
The good news for Hawkeyes fans is that, even though Johnson is gone, a significant amount of returning production from last year's team remains.
The position this year is filled with a majority of underclassmen, so if a splash is made this year, Iowa will have a bright future in the running game. Let's take a look at the running back room for the 2025 season.
Starter: Kamari Moulton
Kamari Moulton was not a household name last season like Kaleb Johnson, but there is no denying how impressive Moulton played as a freshman.
He was the perfect replacement back when KJ needed a breather on the sideline, and he still managed to rush for over 40 yards in five games last season, including an incredible game against Maryland, where he rushed for 116 yards on just 12 carries and a TD.
Averaging around 5.6 yards per carry, Moulton finished his freshman season with 473 yards and 3 TDs.
What impressed many fans about him was that he had the perfect combination of power and speed, which he showcased last season. He was found to be churning his legs as defenders bring him down constantly, but when he gets into that second gear... look out!
Kirk Ferentz does not often use true sophomores to start at RB, but Moulton is looking to be the exception to that.
He has the potential to be another 1,000-yard rusher like Iowa has had numerous times over the years. How Moulton performs early on against a weaker non-conference schedule will reveal a lot about how his season will unfold in 2025.
If he can make his presence known early, college football fans and media alike could be mentioning him a lot next season.
Backup: Jaziun Patterson
Although he may not be listed as RB1 on the depth chart, Hawkeye fans should expect to see Jaziun Patterson a fair amount this season. He had only 21 fewer carries than Moulton last season and still managed to rush for 309 yards and 2 TDs as a sophomore.
Patterson became a name that Hawkeye fans began to recognize after his 39-yard touchdown against Troy that helped secure the victory.
If there was anything that stood out from Patterson's carries last season, it was his speed when he gets into the secondary. He can run for multiple yards if the running lanes are there.
This makes a perfect complement to Moulton's power running. Fans also touted his ball security, as he did not have a fumble last season, according to ESPN.
Fans hope that there won't be a situation like this, but if Moulton goes down with an injury, Patterson should be able to fill that void without many issues.
It would not be crazy for him to have as many carries as Moulton when the end of the season comes around. Let's hope we can see that same Patterson this season that we did last, and if we do, Iowa's running game could be even more dangerous.
Third-String: Terrell Washington Jr.
Despite only getting 12 carries last season, Terrell Washington Jr. was still an active member of the Hawkeyes offense, appearing in seven games in 2024.
He averaged just shy of three yards per carry and had his best game against Washington, where he ran for 17 yards. Despite not having the stats that impress fans, Washington certainly made an impact when he was in the game.
A talented player from Wylie, TX, Washington was a three-star recruit, according to 247 Sports.
He had a successful high school career, winning the District 9-6A MVP award his senior season, while rushing for over 600 yards and tallying more than 600 receiving yards. He received offers from Washington State, Purdue, Akron, and Duke before committing to the Hawkeyes in 2023.
We didn't see much of him last season, but Washington Jr. has the potential to be a solid back for the Hawkeyes in due time.
When he gets the football, he runs with a purpose and has solid footwork that has helped him elude defenders. In a run-heavy offense, there is going to be a need for even the third string to get reps.
He won't get as much as Moulton or Patterson, but Washington Jr. will not lessen the productivity of the run when he is in the game and should make an impact next season.
Fourth-String: Brevin Doll
After Washington Jr., the remaining running backs are true or redshirt freshmen who did not see any action in 2024, beginning with Iowa native Brevin Doll.
The Adel, IA, native made a name for himself in his senior season of high school. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 27 touchdowns, with 640 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
He was one of the top recruits in the state of Iowa in the Class of 2024, and was a top 35 running back in the country according to 24/7 Sports.
The three-star recruit had a variety of schools recruiting him, receiving scholarship offers from Army, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Minnesota. Instead, he decided to travel two and a half hours from his hometown to go Iowa.
Although the Hawkeyes will recruit athletes from all across the country, they particularly love to have in-state athletes on their squad. It may not be this year or next, but if Doll continues to adjust to the college game and improve every season, it would not be surprising if we see him on the field frequently in 2027.