By Danielle Daniels
September 24, 2024
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior Kaleb Johnson and freshman Rhys Dakin earned national weekly awards on Tuesday. Johnson was recognized as the Doak Walker Award Running Back of the Week, while Dakin earned the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week after their outstanding performances in last weekend’s 31-14 Hawkeye victory at Minnesota.
Johnson registered his fourth consecutive 100-yard game, finishing with career highs in rushing yards (206) and touchdowns (3) against the Gophers. He had scoring runs of one, 15 and 40 yards. Johnson had runs of 21, 23, 24, 33 and 40 yards in the contest — his eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th rushes of 20+ yards this season.
Johnson, who was honored as Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week yesterday, is the first Hawkeye to post four straight 100-yard rushing games since Mark Weisman in 2012. Johnson now has eight career 100-yard games, which tie for 12th most in program history. He has two touchdowns in four consecutive games, a first for a Hawkeye since Mark Weisman in 2014 (five straight games). Johnson is the first Iowa tailback with multiple touchdowns in the first four games of a season since Tavian Banks in 1997 (12 touchdowns).
The Hamilton, Ohio, native has amassed 685 yards and nine touchdowns — averaging 8.4 yards per attempt — through four games. Johnson is one of three Big Ten players with 680+ rush yards and 9+ rush touchdowns through a team’s first four games since 2000 (Javon Ringer, Michigan State, in 2008; Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota, in 2020).
Dakin punted five times against the Gophers, averaging 46.9 yards-per-punt. Dakin placed three punts inside the 20-yard line, while three punts traveled 50 yards or more. The Melbourne, Australia, native had a career-long 55-yard punt in the second quarter.
Iowa (3-1, 1-0) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Ohio State. Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CT) in Columbus, Ohio, and will be televised on CBS.
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