Kaleb Johnson named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
University of Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following his dominant performance in the Hawkeyes’ 42-10 triumph over Wisconsin on Saturday night, it was announced Monday by the league office.
The weekly honor is the second for Johnson this season and third of his career. Johnson was tabbed co-offensive player of the week on Sept. 23, 2024, and offensive and freshman of the week on Nov. 7, 2020.
Johnson (6-foot-0, 212-pounds) recorded his seventh 100-yard game in 2024, finishing with 135 yards on 24 attempts with three touchdowns (16, 9 and 2 yards) against the Badgers. It is his seventh 100-yard game this season and the 11th of his career. He has three games with three rushing touchdowns and four total games with three total TDs.
The 32-point win marked Iowa’s largest margin of victory over Wisconsin in 56 years (1968).
The native of Hamilton, Ohio, has scored at least one touchdown in nine straight games — the longest stretch in school history. He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.
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Johnson has rushing 19 touchdowns this season — the second most in a single season in program history — which is one shy of tying Shonn Greene’s school record (20). His three scores on Saturday boosted his season scoring total to 120 points — tying Greene (2008) and Nate Kaeding’s (2002) single season program scoring record. Johnson now has 1,279 yards this season – the second-most in the country and seventh-most in the Iowa record books.
Three Hawkeyes have earned Big Ten weekly honors four total times this year. Johnson was recognized after Iowa’s win at Minnesota, Aaron Graves was honored following the victory over Washington, while Kaden Wetjen earned the distinction following Iowa’s triumph over Northwestern.
