L.J. Phillips Jr. brings Iowa a bruising, FCS-proof power back with big-play juice
Phillips entered Iowa after a monster 2025 at South Dakota, where he led the FCS with 1,920 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and evaluators praised him as a compact, 5-foot-9, 225-pound runner who combines power, burst, and finishing ability. He was viewed as one of the top transfer backs available and immediately drew buzz for Iowa’s offense. If you want a back who can wear defenses down, break tackles, and handle a heavy workload, he fits the Hawkeyes’ identity beautifully.
