Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Why This Iowa Star's 2025 NFL Scouting Combine Results Won't Matter To Scouts

Originally posted on Iowa Hawkeyes on SI
By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Mar 3, 2025 2:53 PM ET

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson is a football player and one heck of a running back. He may not have a ton of shine on him coming out of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine because of an underwhelming 40-yard dash, but this Hawkeyes' star is a player who will be getting some serious looks after Day One of the 2025 NFL Draft concludes.

Johnson may not be a first round guy and his 4.57 40-yard dash in Indianapolis probably solidified that, but you don't take a 6-foot-1, 224 pound running back for his 40 time. You draft a running back like Johnson because he can be a bruiser who can wear down a defense for your team, but he's still athletic enough to do damage in space. He won't get taken down by arm tackles, and that's not something that shows up at the NFL Combine. It is something that shows up on the field, though.

Think of how prime Marshawn Lynch used to run over defenders and keep his feet moving at the second level. That's not to say Johnson will reach the level Lynch did in the NFL, but the Iowa star put together some "Beast Mode"-like runs at the college level.

Doing the same thing in the NFL is a completely different beast altogether, but the point here is that you don't draft a guy like Johnson for his straight-line speed. You draft him for his footwork, his patience, and the fact that he'll simply refuse to be taken down by one player.

You can't teach that, and again, it doesn't show up at the combine.

"Johnson is built like a bruiser, but his style is more finesse, preferring to win with tempo and decisiveness. He keeps his runs on time and on track while allowing blockers to do their job. He’s not overly aggressive, but he has the size and strength to break tackles and grab extra yards at the finish," NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein wrote of the Iowa running back in his scouting report.

Of all the running backs who ran the 40-yard dash, Johnson finished 19th. For comparison's sake, Bhayshul Tuten led the way with a 4.32 while a more familiar name like Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson ran a 4.43.

Sure, it's a piece of the puzzle, but what NFL scouts will care more about is the fact that Johnson carried the load for Iowa in 2024 with 240 carries, and he turned those opportunities into 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on a strong 6.4 yards per carry. He also didn't fumble at all in 2024 and that's really going to pique the interest of NFL scouts.

The point is this: Johnson was always expected to be selected in the second or third round of this upcoming draft, and his 40 time is not going to do anything to change that projection.

This article first appeared on Iowa Hawkeyes on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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