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Editor’s note: The first of nine installments examining the Iowa football squad in advance of the August 30 kickoff.
The city of Iowa Given the situation, you would assume he would have remained at home. However, Kamari Moulton left home due to the situation.
due to mom.
Five years ago, the sophomore running back for Iowa experienced an unimaginable tragedy when his mother, Latavia, and both of his grandmothers passed away due to COVID-19 complications. He was a junior at Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Cardinal Gibbons High School.
However, he ended up in Iowa City rather than playing collegiate football in south Florida or anywhere else in Florida to be close to his father, Kirk, and his two sisters.
At the Hawkeyes’ latest media day, Moulton remarked, “My mother always told me that she wanted me to travel the world.” I know that this is what mom would have wanted for me when I had this chance. She most likely would have joined me out here if she were still here. Of course.
Moulton has a kind manner and is ready to grin. Given the horror he has experienced, it defies your expectations of him.
He claimed that whether he is in class or playing football, he always feels his mother’s presence.
I was genuinely unsure of my feelings at the time. He remarked, “I was just really numb to the world.” However, it helped shape who I am now. It made me realize how awful life can be. One life is all you have.
My mother would undoubtedly be pleased with what I’m doing. She always urged me to leave Florida and other places. The knowledge that I’m carrying out her wishes keeps me awake. She wanted me to continue, and I knew it.
Following a 2024 campaign in which he carried for just under 500 yards as Kaleb Johnson’s backup, Moulton is certain to receive carries this season. In Iowa’s defeat to Missouri in the Music City Bowl, he ran for 96 yards and a touchdown.
How Iowa uses its running backs is one of the major questions for 2025. Tim Lester, the offensive coordinator, stated that he would rather take a back-by-committee strategy. To start the season, those backs would probably be Terrell Washington Jr., Jaz Patterson, and Moulton.
Another Floridian, Nathan McNeil, a freshman, performed admirably during last week’s Kids Day practice/scrimmage. Xavier Williams, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound redshirt freshman, offers a powerful running approach.
Lots of choices, apparently.
One of Kaleb’s cool qualities from the previous year was that. Lester stated that he could manage twenty to twenty-five carries. I believe some of the males in the room could. You don’t want to kill them in practice, therefore it’s difficult to find out. Our goal is to maintain their health.
Lester noted that the challenge of depending solely on one backfield player, as Iowa did the previous season, is that you have to change up a lot of offensive schemes in case he is hurt. This season, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Every guy seems to have a unique set of skills. You might see Washington Jr., Moulton, Patterson, McNeil, Williams, or anyone else at tailback, depending on the circumstances of the game.
Both true freshman Braeden Jackson, the son of former NFL player Fred Jackson, and redshirt freshman Brevin Doll are listed on the roster.
“They’ve done a fantastic job, and they’re all different,” Lester explained of our running back room. We can make use of their individual talents. Some of them have amazing hands, some are large and capable of bowling over people, and some are excellent route runners.
We simply have a very special combination there. As the competition goes on, it will be enjoyable. I’m not sure whether we’ll have a committee or a workhorse.
Soon enough, that decision will be made. Iowa’s first game is against Albany on August 30 at Kinnick Stadium.
Moulton concurs with Lester that there is a great deal of depth in this running back group, with several guys who excel at different things. He will comply with any request.
He wants to be the center of this Iowa offense, though.
“You always want to be the guy because you’re a competitor,” Moulton added. However, I have a strong sense of teamwork, so I think that anyone can be in the running back room if it’s not me. Naturally, though, I’ll admit that I’d like to be the guy.
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