Out of all the position groups on the 2026 Iowa football roster, the running back room has a strong argument to be the very best.
The Hawkeyes return three backs from last year, and added a productive back out of the transfer portal. For an offense breaking in a brand new signal-caller, relying on the run game will be huge.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester will have his pick of the litter for which backs he wants to use in certain situations. This room is deep and ready to make an impact.
This is the second part of my 2026 Iowa football positional preview. Last time out, we focused on the battle in the quarterback room. Now, we’re turning our attention to the stable of running backs. Who’s in line to start and just how deep in this room in 2026? Let’s dive in.
Projected starter: Kamari Moulton
2025 stats: 170 carries, 878 yards, 5 TD, 5.2 yards per carry
Kamari Moulton will be the starting running back for Iowa when the season opens in September. The junior is coming off a strong 2025 campaign, rushing for almost 900 yards despite missing a few games. He had five games with at least 90 rushing yards, but never went over 100. That should change this season with Iowa leaning on the ground game a little more.
At 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, Moulton is a bowling ball who is incredibly hard to tackle. He’s always falling forward for extra yards and gives 110% on every single carry. He’s a very shifty runner with a high IQ for the game. Moulton could easily rush for 1,000 yards in 2026 and is a huge weapon returning for the Hawks.
Projected backup: Xavier Williams
2025 stats: 49 carries, 285 yards, 3 TD, 5.8 yards per carry
Xavier Williams burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2025, rushing for 122 yards and a score in Iowa’s season opener. While he saw his role diminished in the back half of the season, he should be in line for big snaps in 2026. Williams is a burner, with the ability to break off big runs at a moment’s notice. At 5-foot-10, 225 pounds, he’s a great complement to Moulton’s style of play.
Three guys could realistically be the backup for Iowa next season. All three of them will see carries and workload in 2026.
Keeping everyone in that room fresh will help Iowa avoid some wear-and-tear down the stretch that can derail a season. Williams will be a big part of that plan. He showed last season what he can do in flashes. The key for him will be consistency.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 2026 Iowa football positional preview: Running backs
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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By Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
