HAMILTON - A visit to Kinnick Stadium to watch No. 2 Iowa knock off Penn State 23-20 in a top-five Big Ten matchup Saturday was highly influential for Hamilton High School running back Kaleb Johnson.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound bruising four-year running back for the Big Blue has covered more than 3,000 yards in his prep career. Now, based on a verbal commitment announced via Twitter, he'll cover about 471 miles from Hamilton to the home of the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.
It's a long way, but considerably shorter than a trip to Berkeley, California, where Johnson originally committed to the Golden Bears in June.
It also gives Hamilton coach Nate Mahon two former players to watch in Iowa as quarterback Malik Verdon is in the Big 12 at Iowa State. Verdon is now a defensive back for the Cyclones.
Johnson has racked up numbers for Hamilton since his freshman year running for 621, 878, and 786 yards, respectively, the last three seasons. This year through six contests he's at 767 with nine touchdowns. He's gone over 200 yards three times in his career: 229 against Middletown as a sophomore, 253 against Sycamore as a junior and 239 against West Clermont to open 2021.
"This is really home," Johnson posted in his social media announcement. "(My) parents and my coaches talked and I’m closing my recruitment and only focusing on this school. Thanks to everyone who has recruited me and made relationships with me."
Johnson is currently ranked the No. 36 running back in the country and the No. 18 prospect out of Ohio as a three-star recruit according to 247sports.com.
Among Johnson's other offers were Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Kentucky, Minnesota, West Virginia, Ball State, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Miami University, Toledo, Western Michigan and Eastern Kentucky.
Early college football signing day is Dec. 15.
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