Phillips is one of the most anticipated transfers Iowa's had in a long time.
Welcome back to our countdown to the 2026 Iowa football season!
Since May 28, we've been counting down the final 100 days until the Hawkeyes swarm out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel for their season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5.
Each day of the countdown has primarily featured an article profiling one of the current members of the 2026 Hawkeyes based on their jersey number.
Loyal readers already know this, but if you're new, here's how this countdown works: if a player wears No. 23 and we're down to 23 days until kickoff, that's the player we're going to be taking a look at.
We've had to mix things up in the past because Iowa doesn't issue a number for every day in our countdown, but that's not going to be the case today. Today marks 21 days (exactly three weeks) until kickoff, so that means it's time to take a look at the man who wears No. 21 - running back L.J. Phillips Jr.
Most of you have probably heard of Phillips by now, but in case you haven't, get to know him here.
Bio
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
High School: Wichita Northwest High School
Year: Fourth-Year
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 211 pounds
Other notable players to wear No. 21: A recognizable name to wear No. 21 happened to wear the uniform last year - Kaden Wetjen. This article would turn into a novel if we listed every single one of Wetjen's accomplishments, but he left Iowa as one of the most decorated kick returners in Big Ten history, winning consecutive Jet Awards (nation's best returner) and breaking Tim Dwight's record for return scores in a career with six.
Phillips' career so far
Phillips may be one of the most anticipated transfers in Iowa history. The Hawkeyes did a lot of good things in the transfer portal this offseason, but Kirk Ferentz's most valuable move may have been convincing Phillips to play for Iowa.
Philips spent the previous three seasons at the FCS level with South Dakota, and it's safe to say he made a name for himself in Vermillion. After redshirting in 2023 and seeing minimal action in 2024, Phillips became one of the best running backs at the FCS level, totaling an FCS-best 1,921 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns for the Coyotes.
Phillips put together some incredible performances over this stretch, netting 301 yards on 35 carries in an overtime win against Northern Colorado and 244 yards against Murray State. Honors poured in as a result, highlighted by first-team All-American accolades from Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated, and the American Football Coaches Association.
Phillips missed the open spring practice due to an injury, but the media will get its first look at him during Iowa's Kid's Day scrimmage on Saturday afternoon. Fans in attendance will certainly have their eyes on Phillips, but he's just a piece of what could be one of the country's best running back rooms in 2026.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
