The 235-lb Power RB with Big 12 Balance & Family Legacy at Iowa State
AJ Petersen is a 6'1", 235-lb running back for Iowa State who brings rare power, intensity, and a double major in Ag Systems Technology and Industrial Technology. Though officially listed as an Edge in some rosters, he competes as an RB in the Cyclones’ 3-headed monster backfield, contributing to the team’s 2024 balanced offense that saw Carson Hansen rush for 752 yards and 13 TDs. Petersen’s differentiators include his family legacy (brothers Zach and Joey also at Iowa State), academic grit, and high-contact readiness. He has played sparingly (2 games in 2024), but his size and intensity make him a high-upside fit for teams needing a physical, late-down RB. No major injury history reported. Why care? He’s the next big-wave power RB in the Big 12 with a story you can’t get from stats alone.
