Iowa football’s running back room could be at full strength against Minnesota

IOWA CITY — The running back update Iowa had been hoping for came to fruition Tuesday afternoon: Kirk Ferentz said it’s likely the Hawkeyes will have their two missing backs against Minnesota.

“Things are looking a little bit better. (Jaziun Patterson) and (TJ Washington Jr.) have both been practicing. Looks like they're going to be OK,” Ferentz said. “It’s good to have those guys back.”

For the first time since the opening drive of the 2025 season, Iowa football can use its five running backs in a single game. Since the season opener, at least one of the Hawkeyes’ RBs have missed time with injuries.

Starting running back Kamari Moulton was injured on the first drive of the season, missing the rest of nonconference play before returning against Rutgers three weeks later. Xavier Williams missed the first two Big Ten games, then Patterson left the Rutgers game with a lower body injury.

It’s allowed true freshman Nathan McNeil to step into the spotlight some. When they’ve played, Williams and Patterson had standout performances. It also tanked the Hawkeyes’ original hopes for a deep running back room.

Ferentz hinted at Patterson’s return following Iowa’s win over Penn State, but him nor Washington Jr. were listed on the team’s depth chart. Moulton, Williams and McNeil were the trio listed ahead of Minnesota.

When the bye week came along at the end of September, running backs coach Omar Young started creating new ways to boost the run game while continuing to rehab the injured players.

“It didn't look how we wanted it to look, right?” Young said. “There were plenty of opportunities out there that we left on the field that if we had converted on, we're probably talking about a different level of success in terms of our team right now.”

  Buy Photo

The Hawkeyes had a complete reset during their first bye week at the start of the month. Young said Iowa “went back to the drawing board” to work through details on finishing plays, understanding what the team’s depth looked like and who can play what role moving forward.

Ferentz described it as “whoever’s available” scenario. Part of the adjustment also included wide receiver Kaden Wetjen making a few appearances in the backfield, and he scored the game-winning touchdown against Penn State with an 8-yard rush.

“I was always playing running back in high school, so I was familiar with it, and it wasn't anything new,” Wetjen said. “So I mean, just kind of having those conversations and getting them comfortable with me was cool.”

Quarterback Mark Gronowski’s mobility has helped, too. He’s rushed for 289 yards this season, including 10 rushing touchdowns and a 130-yard performance against Penn State last week.

“I always joke that he's our biggest back,” Ferentz said after the win over the Nittany Lions.

Gronowski’s ability to move outside the pocket won’t change with more running backs available, but Young isn’t afraid to adjust which running back is in the game at certain times.

It’s not like a hockey line change, he said, but some cases there are specific times he’ll want Moulton in over Williams and vice versa. There’s also times where one player will have a preset role for the entire game, too. It all comes down to how they plan to attack their opponent, in this case Minnesota.

Having a full room, however, means Young and offensive coordinator Tim Lester can pick across the room for whomever best fits each scenario in-game.

A luxury the Hawkeyes intend to take full advantage of, and use it as much as they can against the Golden Gophers.

“It makes it easier for me,” Young said. “When I can put these guys in certain positions of things that they do really well, and they can go out there and shine to have success.”

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.