IOWA CITY – Iowa Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson had a season for the record books, setting records and breaking opposing defenses with games on the line, and now he is ready to play in the NFL as his days in black and gold are over.
Johnson scored 20 touchdowns this season, breaking Shonn Green’s record. He has declared for the NFL draft as Iowa awaits a bowl destination after a 8-4 season. His letter to fans:
DEAR HAWKEYE NATION,
AS I WRITE THIS LETTER, MV HEART IS FILLED WITH GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY I’VE EXPERIENCED AS A MEMBER OF THE IOWA HAWKEYES. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WEAR THE BLACK AND GOLD AND REPRESENT THIS PROGRAM, THIS UNIVERSITY, AND THIS COMMUNITY THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.
TO THE FANS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. WHETHER IT WAS UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AT KINNICK OR ON THE ROAD, YOUR ENERGY AND PASSION HAVE BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EVERY GAME, EVERY MOMENT. FROM THE ICONIC “IOWA WAVE” TO THE CHANTS AND CHEERS THAT ECHO THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM, YOU’VE MADE THIS EXPERIENCE UNFORGETTABLE. YOU’VE SHOWN ME WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF. AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL.
TO MY COACHES: THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME, CHALLENGING ME, AND PUSHING ME TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. THE LESSONS YOU’VE TAUGHT ME GO FAR BEYOND FOOTBALL-THEY ARE LESSONS I’LL CARRY WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. YOUR GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP HAVE NOT ONLY SHAPED ME AS A PLAYER BUT AS A MAN, AND I’M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE IMPACT YOU’VE HAD ON MY JOURNEY.
TO MY TEAMMATES: YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST TEAMMATES-YOU ARE FAMILY. THE BONDS WE’VE BUILT, THE CHALLENGES WE’VE FACED, AND THE MEMORIES WE’VE CREATED TOGETHER WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. EVERY PRACTICE, EVERY GAME, EVERY MOMENT WE SHARED HAS MADE ME BETTER, AND I AM PROUD TO HAVE BATTLED ALONGSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND REFLECTION, I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN MY JOURNEY AND DECLARE FOR THE 2025 NFL DRAFT. THIS DECISION WAS NOT MADE LIGHTLY, BUT IT IS WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION THAT I EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD. THE FOUNDATION I’VE BUILT HERE AT IOWA HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS MOMENT, AND I CARRY THE HAWKEYE SPIRIT WITH ME AS I MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR SHAPING ME, SUPPORTING ME, AND BELIEVING IN ME. IOWA WILL ALWAYS BE HOME, AND I WILL FOREVER BE A HAWKEYE.
WITH GRATITUDE AND LOVE, KALEB “K2″JOHNSON
(PHOTOS of Johnson via hawkeyesports.com.)