New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Kaleb Johnson can be part of a running back rotation and has kickoff return experience.

Kaleb Johnson, RB

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 224 lbs
Class: Junior
School: Iowa
Hand size: 9 ⅝”
Arm length: 33”
40-Yard-Dash: 4.57s
10-Yard-Split: 1.62
STATS

A former three-star recruit out of Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, near Cincinnati, where he was the 18th overall recruit from the state and the 43rd running back during the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Johnson was a one-year starter for the Hawkeyes in their inside/outside zone system under Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Tim Lester.

Johnson’s sensational season earned him a Consensus All-American nod, the Big-10 Running Back of the Year Award, and a First-Team All-Big-10 honor.

Johnson became just the third player in school history to eclipse 1,500 rushing yards in a season. Johnson’s running back coach at Iowa is Ladell Betts, who is currently the New York Giants running backs coach.

Strengths

Long-limbed with even-distributed weight
Powerful frame
Long strider with good build up speed/acceleration
Good overall explosiveness when hole is identified
Immediate start/stop stutter with good change of direction
Good lateral movement skills – slashes through traffic
Tempos run well behind the LOS
Very good footwork behind the LOS – excellent one-cut ability
Excellent overall vision with ELITE patience
Very aware runner – excellent peripheral awareness
High processor who baits LBs into blocks – smart runner
Excellent feel for running inside the tackles – understands tempo/footwork/baiting and times uses good overall burst to attack defender’s angles
Active stiff arm that CAN go firm
Uses hands often to shed contact
Solid overall contact balance – would do better if he ran with a lower profile
Reliable pass catcher who showcased his hands by catching away from his frame
Cable and intelligent pass protector
Did not fumble the football once in 2024
Used to playing against stacked boxes
Has a three-down skill set
Has kick return experience
Young – just 21 years old

I honestly think about this Kaleb Johnson TD at least once a day I’m not gonna lie man

➖6’1
➖224 lbs

For what it’s worth, his 48.9% Dominator Rating ranked in the 99th Percentile..

2024 Stats: (12 Games)

➖1,537 Rushing Yards
➖21 Rushing TD’s

Shades of Marshawn Lynch.. pic.twitter.com/mvvA5btciC
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) April 12, 2025

Weaknesses

High-hipped – high runner
Kind of a stiff runner
Lacks long speed
Could run lower behind his pads more to maximize the effectiveness of his frame
Lacks high-end agility to make defender’s miss in a phone booth
Capable in pass protection but could still improve technique
Was ten pounds heavier at his pro day than the combine

Feb 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson (RB16) talks to the press during the 2025 NFL Combine at Indiana Convention Center. | Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images

Summary

The New York Giants hired Johnson’s running back coach Ladell Betts, and Betts stated that Johnson “sets the example” for the offense in terms of how to work.

Johnson is not a twitched up athlete who makes defenders look silly in tight spaces; rather he’s a well-put-together – upright – runner with elite patience and decisiveness behind the line of scrimmage, with a one-cut ability and sufficient acceleration to challenge linebacker angles and find space.

He has active hands in space and can step through poor tackle attempts while falling forward through contact. He is capable of performing pass protection but he could improve there, and his receiving skills were underutilized in Iowa’s offense.

Overall, Kaleb Johnson is a well-rounded, smart running back who wins the cat-and-mouse game against linebackers and understands how to set up/maximize blocks. However, he lacks high-end athletic traits.

Johnson can break tackles, but his frame would suggest a more physical runner, although he doesn’t lack physicality. Still, he’ll be a good football player at the next level.

GRADE: 6.48

Nick Falato's Draft Grade Chart | Nick Falato

Kaleb Johnson, RB

Strengths

Weaknesses

Summary

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