IOWA CITY — Ladell Betts was just talking about this.

During the Kids Day at Kinnick open practice, Kamari Moulton, standing in the backfield with quarterback Brendan Sullivan, ran near the sideline as a check-down option. Sullivan, who went through his progressions, settled with slinging the ball out wide to Moulton. 

The pass was a touch behind Moulton, but he adjusted to haul it in. Though it seemed like a rather unremarkable play in a quiet Kids Day performance for Moulton, it spoke to a larger theme.

The day before, Betts, Iowa’s running backs coach, talked about this scenario — almost to a tee.

“If I had to say he had a weakness coming out, it would be his catching the ball and route-running,” Betts said of Moulton. “And those are things he’s worked on and those are things he and I talked about. To me, you wouldn’t even know it’s a weakness at this point.”

Video: Ladell Betts on Leshon Williams, Kaleb Johnson and more

Running backs coach Ladell Betts discusses a variety of topics at Iowa football media day on August 9, 2024.

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The redshirt freshman’s rapid ascent on offense reached a new high-water mark when the pre-Illinois State depth chart dropped on Monday — he was listed as the Hawkeyes’ first-team running back. The reasoning for that, as explained by head coach Kirk Ferentz, is multi-pronged.

First, Leshon Williams missed time during fall camp. Williams, coming off the best season of his college career, expects to build off his success of 2023. But an injury, which set back his timeline, also opened up an opportunity for Moulton.

But Moulton has also taken advantage of it. 

“Really started showing in December when we were doing more work with the guys,” Ferentz said. “He’d been on the scout team most of the time last year. It seemed like he was maybe a guy who could pop through here a little bit. I think he’s certainly done that in August.”

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Video: Kirk Ferentz on Cade McNamara and more ahead of season-opener

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics ahead of the Hawkeyes’ 2024 season-opener vs. Illinois State.

In the short time he has been at Iowa, Moulton has already given a window, albeit brief, into his potential. He was one of the unexpected standouts from the Hawkeyes’ win over Western Michigan last September, when he ran for 50 yards and two touchdowns. But overall, his role was not significant — with that game counting for more than half of his rushing yards on the season as he maintained his redshirt.

“I think last season was a great feeling for me,” Moulton said earlier in August. “Just to be a freshman and be able to travel and see different places and different things. I feel like it was great for my mental and see what I can do, see where places I can be and achieve.”

From Citrus Bowl preparation to the spring to now being on the horizon of the 2024 season, Moulton has risen in the running backs room. He added bulk to his frame, putting on 12 pounds since last season, according to Iowa’s official roster. Rice, chicken and steak, along with work in the weight room, helped him do that.

Buzz around Moulton from the spring was reflected in the pre-fall camp depth chart, on which he was listed as the third-team running back, jumping returning contributor Jaziun Patterson. With Williams out during the Kids Day open practice, Moulton got some reps with the first team. And now heading into Week 1, he has moved past Kaleb Johnson and Williams.

“He’s had a great attitude since he’s been here,” Ferentz said of Moulton, a Florida native. “He’s got good vision. He’s bigger and stronger physically than he was certainly a year ago, year-plus ago when he got here. All that’s good, and that’s one of the benefits of experience. Happy about that. He’s got a tremendous attitude, but he’s got a real good vision, a good ability to see things that maybe other guys can’t see, and that’s been pretty consistent.”

Even then, it’s somewhat surprising Moulton has gotten to the RB1 line so fast. Johnson is considered a potential breakout candidate. Williams has returned to practice and figures to be a significant factor. Patterson is capable of being a contributor. Which makes Moulton’s status all the more impressive, especially for someone who has just 93 career rushing yards to his name.

More: Leistikow: A Kaleb Johnson resurgence would stave off quarterback panic for Iowa football

But just because Moulton is listed as the first-team running back doesn’t negate the fact that Iowa likely won’t be shy in sharing the love. Or potentially riding whoever the hot hand(s) if it emerges. That’s how good Iowa’s running backs room could be.

“I envision us playing a lot of the guys in the group,” Ferentz said. “Max White’s done a good job, too. I feel like it’s a good group that way. We’ll just kind of see how it plays out as we keep going forward. History would say you can never have too many backs, that’s for sure.”

Unlike Johnson, who is physically gifted in many ways, Moulton is not especially imposing in stature. He is listed at just 5-foot-9. The muscle he added has helped make him better suited as a college running back, but it’s not as if he is some genetic wrecking ball.

But he can actually use that to his advantage.

“A lot of the times, (notable plays) happen when you don’t think it’s going to,” defensive lineman Jeremiah Pittman said of Moulton. “Because you think the gap’s sealed off, he either slithers through or he knows how to cut. Like he makes some good cuts. But being a smaller guy, he’s really agile. So I think he knows how to make something out of nothing.”

For instance:

“If I’m a 3-tech going B (gap) and I see him in A (gap), he might not be there by the time I shed the block and get there just because he’s so quick,” Pittman said.

It remains to be seen what type of longevity Moulton holds in that role. But his progress has been a fascinating development in a position group already projected to be one of the best on Iowa’s offense. The Hawkeyes can take all the help they can get as they try to get a rebuilding offense back on its feet under new coordinator Tim Lester.

“He’s just a ball of enjoyment,” defensive back Jermari Harris said of Moulton. “When you talk to him, he’s always smiling. And he plays like that on the field. Hard-nosed runner, can get downhill, great vision. I think he’s shown that over these last couple of weeks.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller has announced the addition of two former Major League Baseball players and Iowa alumni to his coaching staff on Tuesday. Tyler Cropley will join the Hawkeyes as a student assistant and Wes Obermueller joins as Director of Player Development.

Cropley played for Heller and the Hawkeyes from 2017-18. He hit a team-best .342 with 20 doubles, nine home runs, 50 RBIs and 43 runs scored as a senior. He was a named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award.

Cropley was selected in the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Draft by the Washington Nationals with the 251st pick. He was the first Hawkeye catcher drafted in top eight rounds since 1972.

The Sioux City, Iowa, native made his MLB debut on August 19, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in two games for the Royals.

Obermueller played for Iowa from 1997-1999 before being selected by Kansas City in the second round of the MLB Draft. In 1999 he had a 6.83 ERA while recording 91 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. He also had a .352 batting average with 24 RBIs. Obermueller started his career at Iowa as a shortstop and then a right fielder before making his debut on the mound as a junior. He locked down a spot in the starting rotation in 1999.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native made his major league debut on September 20, 2002, and played parts of five seasons in the big leagues (Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Florida Marlins) starting 48 games and appearing in 80. He had a 5.82 ERA over 315 1/3 innings tallying 166 strikeouts.

He also pitched for the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League and the Samsung Lions of the KBO League.

Obermueller is the father of junior LHP Cade Obermueller.

Iowa wrestling released its roster ahead of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, showcasing several departures and weight changes for the team.

Zach Glazier and Aiden Riggins have both departed for new programs. Glazier confirmed to the Register that he is headed to South Dakota State, while Riggins told the Register he has joined the Iowa State program. Departing alongside them, according to the roster and an Iowa spokesperson, are Bradley Hill, Cobe Siebrecht, Cade Siebrecht and Drake Rhodes, while Stephen Buchanan is on the way in.

More: Iowa wrestling: Oklahoma’s Stephen Buchanan, a top returner at 197, on Hawkeye roster

Hill and Cobe Siebrecht both qualified for the NCAA Championships for the Hawkeyes, Hill doing so in 2024 and Cobe Siebrecht accomplishing the feat in 2023 before sitting out the 2024 campaign due to the controversial gambling suspensions handed to several wrestlers in the program. Cobe Siebrecht has one year of eligibility remaining, while Hill has three.

Hill was praised by the Iowa staff a year ago for his role in stepping up for the suspended Tony Cassioppi, and despite often being overlooked for Ben Kueter, coach Tom Brands lauded the Bettendorf native any chance he got.

“Bradley Hill… he is not chop liver,” Brands said. “He’s a capable, talented and explosive heavyweight that we love.”

With Kueter dedicating a full season to wrestling after qualifying for another U20 World Championships, Hill appears to be looking for other options.

Cobe Siebrecht was a potential option for Iowa at 157 pounds after Jared Franek’s departure, but he and his brother Cade, who were both multi-time Iowa state champions for Lisbon, are looking for new homes as well. Rhodes, who was 16-5 in four tournaments last year, is in the same boat as a 157/165-pound depth guy.

Departures, however, were not the lone notable roster change. Drake Ayala, an NCAA finalist at 125 pounds, was also listed at 133 pounds. That signals a weight change for the Fort Dodge native, who wrestled at the weight at U23 Nationals this summer. If 133 pounds is Ayala’s weight, that changes a few things for Iowa.

More: Former Iowa wrestling national champion Marlynne Deede named assistant at Grand Valley State

First, 125 pounds would now be an open competition between sophomore Joey Cruz, senior Jesse Ybarra and freshmen Dru Ayala (Drake’s brother), Kenyan Hernandez and Anthony Lavezzola. Second, 133 pounds would be filled by Drake Ayala’s talent and experience, likely pushing Kale Petersen and Cullan Schriever to a battle for the 141-pound spot. Petersen and Schreiver both got starts last season and would be the presumptive favorites. Ryder Block was once considered an option at 141, but at this moment, is listed at 149 pounds on the roster.

Granted, the weights on the roster are not the end-all, be-all for the season. Riggins was a 157/165 pound wrestler on the roster last year, before wrestling at 174 or 184 pounds. Patrick Kennedy was listed at 165 pounds before taking over at 174 pounds.

This can all change, but the weight change for Ayala does signal what the Hawkeye coaching staff may be thinking ahead of 2024-25.

The full roster can be viewed on hawkeyesports.com.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him atEmckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.