The University of Miami been the home to some of college football’s best running back over the past 15 years.
Think Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis and Frank Gore.
But none of them had a freshman season like Duke Johnson’s.
J0hnson capped a spectacular rookie campaign on Saturday, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns in the Hurricanes’ season-ending 52-45 victory against Duke.
On the first play of the second half, Johnson broke Portis’ UM freshman rushing record of 838 yards set in 1999 with a 5-yard gain. Johnson ended up shattering Portis’ mark, finishing his first season with 947 yards.
“It means alot to me and the team,” Johnson said.
It certainly meant plenty for the Hurricanes, who likely would have fared far worse than their 7-5 record without the fleet-footed tailback.
Not only did Johnson set the school’s freshman rushing mark on Saturday but he came within 48 yards of breaking McGahee’s mark of 2,108 all-purpose yards set in 2002. Johnson also scored 13 touchdowns, the fifth most in a single season by a UM player. He scored three on Saturday.
“He’s a special young man,” coach Al Golden said. “He works hard and he wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game.”
Johnson almost accounted for a fourth touchdown against the Blue Devils. On a 4th-and-goal situation early in the fourth quarter, Johnson took a handoff, stopped of the line of scrimmage and threw a jump pass Tim Tebow-like pass to a wide open Clive Walford in the end zone.
The play was initially called a touchdown but was overturned after the replay official ruled that Johnson’s pass bounced off the turf.
“I thought it was a cool, little play,” offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. “I thought it was going to work.”
Just about everything else worked for Johnson on Saturday. His 176-yard outing marked his fourth 100-yard rushing performance this season.
“He’s a talented player, truly blessed,” quarterback Stephen Morris said.
LB Johnson left home again: For the second time in three games, linebacker Eddie Johnson was left at home for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Johnson, second on UM in tackles and first in tackles for losses, was also suspended for the Virginia game on Nov. 1.
“I’m disappointed that he’s not doing the things he needs to do,” Golden said. “It’s not really my decision, it’s his decision and it’s the team’s decision. Hopefully, it will give him a chance to appreciate what he has, be grateful and accountable to his teammates and really grow up. I’m hoping that he will do that.”
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