Warren Sharp’s recent analysis of Kaleb Johnson, the Iowa Hawkeyes running back, prowess on the field tells us that Johnson faced formidable defenses and still got the job done.
Warren Sharp Defends Kaleb Johnson With Eye-Opening Stats
The analyst likes Johnson as a prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his stock has fallen a bit in recent mock drafts. To remind fans how good Johnson is, Sharp said:
Kaleb Johnson:
Iowa doesn’t disguise their intent so RBs face stacked boxes often
Johnson faced 7.1 box defenders on avg, #2 most in class
28% of runs vs light box, lowest in class
but when facing a light box?
9.8 YPC, #1 most in class
accounted for 40% of Iowa’s offensive… pic.twitter.com/4fIo9t2zwl
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 14, 2025
Johnson’s numbers show he is a strong running back, breaking through challenging defensive schemes and having considerable success.
John Steppe’s article in the Gazette in November noted that Johnson “has a whopping 1,004 yards after contact. That’s more than any Iowa running back had in total — before or after contact — in the 2022 or 2023 seasons. The only running backs across the country with more are Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.”
He averaged 4.5 yards after contact per carry in 2024. When facing the Maryland Terrapins in a game, he had 113 yards to the Terrapins’ 98 yards total.
Pro Football Focus noted that he was third in runs of 15+ yards last season. He also set a school record for 23 total touchdowns.
Draft Stock Falls With Poor Combine Performance
Johnson’s NFL Combine 40-yard dash was 4.57, and he had a 76 rating, which gave him the 11th spot overall for running backs.
Jeanty was at the top with a 95 rating.
Mock drafters have drafted him as low as the fourth round despite his 2024 season, during which he had 1537 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten in both categories. With numbers like that, Johnson had seen as high as Round One mock projections.
KEEP READING: Ashton Jeanty Mock Draft: Potential 2025 NFL Draft Landing Spots for Boise State RB
However, these numbers and projections don’t make sense when considering Sharp’s breakdown and some of Johnson’s numbers.
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