Nathan Mcneil

Sophomore running back for Iowa. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.

RB · Iowa · So. · #5

5′11″ · 202 lb · Tampa, FL · Wiregrass Ranch

Returning to Iowa for 2026

Next upSat Sep 19 · 4 pm ETvs Northern IowaKinnick Stadium

How he plays

Rush TDs: 10th percentile.

The full scouting read

The numbers

rushing yards · 2026

1.9 per carry

2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 9 rush yds, vs Iowa State

His career numbers, season by season

The story

2 running back for Iowa. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.

Signed as a 3-star recruit to Iowa in 2025.

His career, year by year

Nathan Mcneil

RB · Iowa · So · #5

This is his second year in the same backfield at Iowa. The receipt on tape: 9 rush yds against Iowa State, Week 2, 2026.

17 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 9 CARRIES

Low coverage — composed from the verified record.

season totals
seasons on the roster
game log

2026 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2 seasons under Kirk Ferentz — 11-4 over that span.

2025Iowa9-4HC: Kirk Ferentz · Run-heavy, slow tempo

2026Iowa2-0HC: Kirk Ferentz · Balanced

Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort

Box-score percentiles

5 metrics · season cumulative

Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).

Box-score rates (5)

Rush TDs#13 / 15 · 10th pct

Rush yards#16 / 15 · 0th pct

Yards / carry#16 / 15 · 0th pct

1.9

Long run#16 / 15 · 0th pct

Carries#16 / 15 · 0th pct

Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.

Splits & context

Splits

Per-game splits

Through 2 games: 8.5 YDS/g, 2.8 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.

Supporting cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2026 season

Head Coach

Kirk Ferentz

Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.

Awards

Player standing · 2026

Backup

On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.

Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Career stats

Season	Team
2026	Iowa	9	17	1.9	--
2025	Iowa	37	169	4.6	--
Career		46	186	4.0	--

Season	Team
2026	Iowa	--	--	--	--	--
2025	Iowa	5	45	9.0	0	--
Career		5	45	9.0	0	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026

W 16–13

vs Iowa State

9 rush yds (2 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

With B. Everitt — 44 AVG · 4 IN 20 · 51 LONG · H. Brown — 191 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 34.2 · 22 rush yds (8 car) · 1 TD

Signature plays

Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|

The plays that mattered most

fact

Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA -1.04(14:49) Shotgun #5 N.McNeil rush right for 0 yards to the Iowa36 (#90 K.Sneed)
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.93(02:19) #5 N.McNeil rush middle for 1 yard gain to the Iowa44 (#93 F.Omotoso)
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 2&10 · Q4 · EPA -0.92(14:14) Shotgun #5 N.McNeil rush right for 4 yards loss to the Iowa32 (#6 J.Nelson)
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 2&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.91(01:00) Shotgun #5 N.McNeil rush left for 0 yards to the NIU35, End Of Play
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.55(13:11) #5 N.McNeil rush right for 2 yards gain to the NIU43 (#6 J.Nelson; #16 K.Conyers)
Week 2 · Iowa State · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA +0.38(01:49) Shotgun #5 N.McNeil rush middle for 7 yards gain to the ISU26 (#7 S.Schlimgen; #92 C.Crawford)
Week 2 · Iowa State · 2&3 · Q4 · EPA -0.35(01:47) Shotgun #5 N.McNeil rush middle for 2 yards gain to the ISU24 (#21 D.Goodman)
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +0.08(08:55) #5 N.McNeil rush left for 5 yards gain to the NIU33 (#6 J.Nelson)
Week 1 · Northern Illinois · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.04(09:35) #5 N.McNeil rush middle for 4 yards gain to the NIU23 (#6 J.Nelson; #50 M.Scarlett)

Game log

Game log · Week-by-week

2026 season · 2 games

Box score · CFBD

Wk	Opp	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG	Note
Wk 1	W 40-0vs Northern Illinois	7	8	1.1	5
Wk 2	W 16-13vs Iowa State	2	9	4.5	7	Season-high 9 yds
Total		9	17	2.8	7

The backfield · Iowa

#28Kamari MoultonRB · Sr.878 rushing yards · 2025
#26Xavier WilliamsRB · Jr.285 rushing yards · 2025
#5Nathan McneilRB · So.169 rushing yards · 2025
#23Brevin DollRB · Jr.3 rushing yards · 2025
#21L.J. Phillips Jr.RB · Sr.1 game · 2026

2 more on the roster · Iowa team page

Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology

20258 games