Iowa's strong running back room is exactly what the offense needs to be QB-proof

With very few exceptions, the Iowa Hawkeyes' offense has centered around dynamic running backs.

Chuck Long and Brad Banks might have something to say about that, but regardless, the Hawkeyes have historically had a stout running game. Kirk Ferentz has always been a run-first guy, and he has stuck to that, even as college football transitions to more mobile quarterbacks who can pass and run. The offense looked vastly different last season thanks to quarterback Mark Gronowski's running ability, but the program finds itself in a very familiar situation: an unknown starting quarterback and a deep running back room.

Iowa's running game will be even more critical next season

It is not surprising to Hawkeye fans that the running game could be a heavy focus next season, especially with the starting quarterback situation still unknown. Both Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are neck-and-neck according to recent reports, and there is a good chance we won't know until the last minute. Iowa isn't afraid to lean on its offensive line and rushing attack, and that might be even more important in 2026.

If Iowa does have to heavily rely on the running game, they have a VERY deep group that can go four, maybe even five deep if they need to. The group has multiple returning contributors, including starter Kamari Moulton, Xavier Williams, and Nathan McNeil, and with L.J. Phillips coming over from South Dakota, there is no question it will be one of the strongest offensive units. Pro Football Focus (PFF) agrees, ranking two of Iowa's returners as the top two returning running backs in the Big Ten.

PFF ranked L.J. Phillips Jr. as the No. 1 overall returning running back, with Kamari Moulton checking in at No. 9 overall. Regardless of rankings, Iowa's running back room will be loaded next season, and it will massively help whoever is under center. While the offensive line returns two key starters in All-American Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, the quarterback spot will have a brand new face after Gronowski locked the position down for all 13 games last season. While we still don't know if it will be Brown or Hecklinski, the program has done an excellent job making the offense quarterback-proof with how stacked the other groups are, especially the running backs.

The tight ends group is looking deeper than it ever has, with the ability to go at least four deep. The wide receivers group also looks poised for a breakout after adding Tony "Boogeyman" Diaz and Evan James from the transfer portal. Coupled with the strength of the running back room, the Iowa offense could be a lot better than people think. If Iowa can get solid performances from its projected top two backs in Phillips Jr. and Moulton, it won't matter as much who earns the starting quarterback position.

Moulton and Phillips Jr. have the potential to be the best one-two punch in the Big Ten

Even though Moulton was hampered by injuries early last season, he still finished with 878 rushing yards and five touchdowns after missing two games. Phillips Jr. was even better last season, albeit at the FCS level, but he tallied an FCS-leading 1,925 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns en route to being named a First-Team FCS All-American by Phil Steele, Walter Camp, and AFCA. Now with the two sharing the backfield, we could see two 1,000-plus-yard rushers this season. Moulton has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard threshold, but he has improved his numbers every season. His numbers went from 93 as a freshman, to 483 as a sophomore, to 878 last season, and he could go over 1,000 this season.

It will be interesting to see how Phillips Jr. and Moulton are used in tandem and alongside Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams, but regardless, all four will take a lot of pressure off the starting quarterback. We haven't seen enough to know what Brown or Hecklinski will do as a starter, but if they can be average to slightly above-average and efficient, neither will have to do very much. If the running back group stays healthy, the Iowa offense will sneak up on some teams next season.

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