2022 3-star running back Kaleb Johnson flips from Cal to Iowa

Iowa‘s win over Penn State last weekend was huge on the field, but it’s paying massive dividends already on the recruiting trail. Hamilton (Ohio) High 2022 running back Kaleb Johnson tweeted Wednesday that he has flipped his commitment from Cal to Iowa. He had been pledged to the Golden Bears since June.

This Is Really Home💛🐤. Parents and my coaches talked and I’m Closing my recruitment and only focusing on this school thanks to everyone who has recruited me and made relationships with me. #gohawkeyes!! @LadellBetts46 @TylerBarnesIOWA @CoachBarnett_OL pic.twitter.com/jxOBIfjHFL

— Kaleb ✝️ Johnson (@Kj_Superman2) October 13, 2021

Johnson, a three-star back, was part of a huge crop of visitors last weekend that included four-star safety Xavier Nwankpa and four-star 2023 tackle Kadyn Proctor.

In June, Johnson picked Cal over both Iowa and Iowa State, among others. But the Hawkeyes kept recruiting him and finally got him to campus last weekend for an official visit.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound bruiser is Iowa’s 11th commitment in the 2022 class. He joins four-star On300 defensive lineman Aaron Graves, three-star running back Jaizun Patterson, and three-star defensive lineman Caden Crawford as the headliners.

With Kaleb Johnson’s commitment, Iowa now has the No. 51 overall class nationally and the No. 12 class in the Big Ten.

Iowa made big impression on visitors

Johnson wasn’t the only one who came away hugely impressed by Iowa’s performance and the atmosphere at Kinnick Stadium. On3’s Jeremy Crabtree caught up with Missouri three-star offensive line commit Armand Membou, who raved about his visit.

“It was really crazy to witness and be a part of,” Membou said. “Just the atmosphere during the game, it was crazy.”

Membou also received an offer from the Hawkeyes over the weekend.

The aforementioned Nwankpa, who hails from Southeast (Iowa) Polk, is Iowa’s biggest remaining target. On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons spoke to him about the visit, and like Membou, Nwankpa had a lot of good things to say.

“That was the most live atmosphere I have been in,” Nwankpa said. “It’s hard to find the words to describe it, but electric, with no ability to hear anything, is what it was like.”

The Hawkeyes will have to fight off Notre Dame and Ohio State, but after last weekend, the Hawkeyes look like the team to beat.