Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Kaleb Johnson, RB Height: 6'1"Weight: 224 poundsAge: 21College: Iowa Athletic Testing Hand Size: 9 7/8 inchesArm Length: 33 inchesForty-Yard Dash: 4.57 secondsVertical Leap: N/ABroad Jump: N/A20-Yard Shuttle: N/A3-Cone: N/A Strengths Vision: Johnson is at his best in wide zone and outside zone concepts. He is excellent at reading his blocks and attacking the right gap. […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) celebrates his touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with teammate Dayton Howard (7) Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) celebrates his touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with teammate Dayton Howard (7) Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kaleb Johnson, RB

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 224 pounds
Age: 21
College: Iowa

Athletic Testing

Hand Size: 9 7/8 inches
Arm Length: 33 inches
Forty-Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds
Vertical Leap: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A

Strengths

  • Vision: Johnson is at his best in wide zone and outside zone concepts. He is excellent at reading his blocks and attacking the right gap. Johnson does a really good job getting skinny and exploiting defenses.
  • Patience: One of the more important things that you need with a zone scheme back is good patience. Johnson has that and then some. He does a great job seeing his blocks develop and knowing when to either cut it back or break to the outside.
  • Receiving Ability: Johnson had only caught seven passes going into the 2024 season but he took a big step this season with 22 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. That is a growing element of his game and it's going to continue developing.
  • Pass blocking: This makes Johnson a true three-down running back. Johnson is a solid pass protector who doesn't have to come off the field on passing downs.

Weaknesses

  • Eluding defenders: Johnson does a great job of knowing what gaps to attack and when to either cut it back or bounce outside, but making defenders miss isn't his forte. If he needs to slow down in open space, you can take him down.
  • Breakaway Speed: When you talk about a wide zone running back, you often don't get breakaway speed and that's exactly what you get with Johnson. He will be a guy that gets you 40-50 yards with an open track but will struggle to get you 70-80 more than you'd prefer.

Player Evaluation

Johnson is exactly what you want if you run a wide zone or outside zone-centric running game. He possesses excellent vision and maneuvers down the field with his vision and patient eyes.

In turn, Johnson also lacks true explosiveness. He doesn't hit that next gear when running in the open field and it prevents some explosive runs down the field. However, Johnson will find a way to get you chunks of yards, which is still a really good asset to have.

There is still room for him to grow as well, as he is essentially a one-year starter with 537 touches at Iowa, and only 29 of them came as a receiver.

Player Comparison

Arian Foster
The wide zone system is one that has taken over the National Football League since Mike Shanahan brought it to the forefront with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. It's been a scheme that has done a great job in generating yards in the running game. 

Foster played for Gary Kubiak, who was the offensive coordinator for those Shanahan teams and the style in which both players win is very similar. They got their yards in taking advantage of backside cuts and letting his vision do the work.

A to Z Rankings:

A to Z Big Board Ranking: #38 overall, #4 running back

A to Z Draft Grade: 7.87

Draft projection: Day Two

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