The Iowa offense has a clear identity heading into 2026: feed the ground game and let the backs do the heavy lifting. The passing game can improve, the formations can get more creative, and the scheme can keep evolving, but the run game is still the engine.
And this time, Iowa isn’t short on options. It has four backs who all bring something different to the table.
That kind of depth gives Tim Lester real room to work. Over his first two years, he’s already shown he can shape the offense around what it does best.
In 2024, Iowa leaned on a power zone approach with Kaleb Johnson pounding downhill. In 2025, the offense kept those same foundations, while Mark Gronowski’s mobility at quarterback opened the door for more option wrinkles to keep defenses honest.
At the top of the backfield hierarchy is Kamari Moulton, who looks set to carry the biggest load. He led Iowa with 878 yards last season, and everything points toward him getting the lead role again.
Moulton has the kind of burst that can turn a crease into a long gain in a flash, but his game is bigger than pure speed. At 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, he can grind out tough yards between the tackles and find openings that don’t always look like much at first glance.
Iowa also added a major weapon through the transfer portal in L.J. Phillips Jr., the FCS leading rusher from last season.
He piled up nearly 2,000 yards a year ago, and there should be plenty of ways to get him involved. Phillips brings a bruising short-yardage style that fits neatly into Iowa’s run-first approach.
At 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he runs with a low center of gravity and a sturdy build that makes him a difficult target to bring down cleanly.
Xavier Williams gives the Hawkeyes another useful piece in the rotation. He logged 49 carries last season and still averaged nearly six yards per attempt, enough volume to suggest real reliability rather than a small-sample hot streak. Williams can spell Moulton without disrupting the flow of the offense, and his size comes with deceptive speed that can catch defenses off guard.
Last on the list is Nathan McNeil, who may be the most intriguing of the group. As a freshman, Iowa still found a way to give him 37 carries, which says plenty about the trust the staff had in him right away.
McNeil’s burst and agility stand out immediately, and he has the kind of athletic profile that can produce explosive plays. He also has the look of a potential pass-catching option out of the backfield if Iowa chooses to expand that part of his game.
In Other News...
Caitlin Clarks New Nike Shoe Has An Iowa Tribute Fans Will Notice
Caitlin Clarks first signature shoe is already turning into one of the more watched launches in basketball, and the latest look is the one Hawkeyes fans will probably circle first. Ahead of the Nike Caitlin 1s official rollout on Oct. 1, Clark has shown off 10 colorways of the shoe, and the newest one leans directly into her Iowa roots with a design nod that tracks back to her college days and the shooting flair that helped make her a star in Iowa City.
The Iowa version is expected to show up in one of Clarks next games, either against the Dallas Wings or the Atlanta Dream, giving fans an on-court look before the shoe hits stores. It is another reminder that Nike and Clark are building this signature line with personal touches front and center, even as the exact release timing for this particular colorway remains a little less clear. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Has A Few Practice Risers Fans Need To Notice
Iowas open fall practice did more than just offer a first look at the roster in pads. It also put a handful of younger players in the spotlight, with offensive lineman Cael Winter, defensive back Darion Jones, wide receiver Evan James and defensive lineman Emmanuel Olagbaju drawing attention as potential pieces who could matter this season. For a program that always cares about development along the line and in the secondary, those early impressions can carry real weight.
Winters progress is especially worth watching because the Hawkeyes are still sorting through options up front, while Jones and Olagbaju fit the kind of depth-building that can quietly shape a season. James brings a different kind of intrigue after arriving with a productive background at Furman, and his chance to carve out a role gives Iowa another receiver worth tracking as camp unfolds. None of it guarantees anything yet, but these are the kind of practice risers that can change the conversation before September arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Fans Get Their First Real Read On A Pivotal Position Battle
Iowa fans will get their first real look at the 2026 team on Aug. 15, when Kids Day at Kinnick opens the door for a public preview ahead of the season. The annual event includes an open practice beginning at 11 a.m. CT, along with autograph sessions before practice, giving supporters and media a chance to size up a roster still taking shape.
The biggest draw figures to be the quarterback battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, a competition that could shape everything else on offense. There will also be fresh eyes on new receivers Tony Diaz and Evan James, plus the kind of first-year players who can turn a routine August workout into an early indicator of who is ready to contribute when the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]