Early last month, Tristen Kuhn reported on X that the Las Vegas Raiders met with Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson. This isn’t big news by any stretch, but the meeting has been swept under the carpet because of the continual barrage of mock drafts sending some other running back to Las Vegas. Maybe you’ve heard of Ashton Jeanty by now (The Raiders have also met with him).
But since running back remains a big area of need for the team, especially now that it is run by Pete Carroll, Johnson is another name Raiders fans should familiarize themselves with.
Las Vegas Raiders Draft: RB Kaleb Johnson Scouting Report
| Measurable | Measurement | %tile |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6′ 1″ | 87 |
| Weight | 224 lbs | 79 |
| Wingspan | 78½” | 95 |
| Arm Length | 33″ | 96 |
| Hand Size | 9⅝” | 78 |
| 10 Yard Split | 1.62s | 24 |
| 40 Yard Dash | 4.57s | 46 |
As a one-year standout starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes, running back Johnson served as the central figure in offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s predominantly run-oriented, zone-blocking scheme. Notably, Iowa’s offensive approach in 2024 heavily featured multiple tight end sets, utilizing them on 62.5 percent of their snaps, a figure that ranked second-highest among all FBS teams.
Johnson’s performance that season was nothing short of explosive, propelling him onto the NFL’s radar as he shattered Iowa’s single-season records for total touchdowns (23), rushing touchdowns (21), and total points scored (138).
His remarkable season also saw him become only the third player in the program’s history to surpass 1,500 rushing yards. Despite consistently facing defenses geared to stop the run (Iowa ranked a lowly 130th out of 133 FBS teams in passing offense in 2024), Johnson particularly excelled in outside zone running concepts.
Johnson’s strengths are most evident when he can quickly diagnose and set up his blocks, demonstrating an innate ability to anticipate both backside and frontside running lanes to generate positive yardage even when initial blocking might not suggest it (ranking second in the FBS with an impressive 21 carries of 20 yards or more in 2024).
While his running style tends to be somewhat upright, presenting a larger target for defenders, he possesses the physical build and determined mindset to be a punishing, forward-leaning, north-south runner.
Overall, Johnson isn’t characterized as a highly elusive, make-you-miss athlete.
Instead, he thrives as a patient and powerful one-cut runner, exhibiting instinctive vision to exploit defensive creases through intelligent run angles and impressive foot quickness.
His playing style draws comparisons to former NFL standout DeMarco Murray, suggesting a three-down skill set that could flourish within a zone-based offensive scheme at the professional level.
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