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Kaleb Johnson drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers

On3 imageby: Tom Kakert04/26/25HawkeyeReport

For the 90th time in the tenure of Kirk Ferentz, the Iowa football team has had a player selected in the NFL Draft. On Friday evening, Kaleb Johnson was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson becomes just the third running back of the Ferentz era picked by an NFL team, joining Ladell Betts, who was his position coach at Iowa, and Shon Greene.

This past season was a record setting one for Johnson. He earned consensus All American honors this year after rushing for 1,537 yards, which was the 7th most in the country. He also set a single season school record with 21 rushing touchdowns. In total, he had 23 total touchdowns, which was also a program record. His 138 total points this season was a single season school record.

His 1,537 yards rushing accounted for 38.6% of Iowa’s total offense last season. His 23 touchdowns accounted for 60.5% of the scores for the Hawkeyes. His 138 points were 41.1% of the total points scored by Iowa.

Overall, he ended his Iowa career with 30 touchdowns, which is the fourth most in school history. He had 32 total touchdowns, which is the fifth most in the history of Iowa football.

For his career, Johnson finished with 2,779 yards rushing in the past three years. That ranks sixth all-time at the University of Iowa.

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