Off to the races
Freshman yielding big returns for Razorbacks
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Sports
Dennis Johnson made his biggest splash of the season Nov. 1 against Tulsa when he took a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, giving Arkansas a lead it wouldn't relinquish in a 30-23 victory.
"That kickoff return killed us," Tulsa head coach Todd Graham said. "It was the difference in the game. I didn't expect it to happen, but give credit to Arkansas for executing."
Whether Johnson is going to continue to have doubters like Graham, or if he's on the way to an All-American kick-returning career like former Razorback Felix Jones remains to be seen.
The Texarkana native is confident in his ability, however, and he's taken it upon himself all season to set the tone for the Razorback offense and the team in general with his kickoff returns.
"I think Dennis [Johnson] showed that on his ability to return a kickoff that he is going to break tackles and that he is very fast," Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said.
Coming into the 2008 campaign, the 5-foot-8 freshman was expected to provide a healthy dose of speed and be able to take the load off of junior tailback Michael Smith.
And when Smith was suspended for the season opener against Western Illinois, Johnson got the nod at tailback.
Johnson only tallied 18 yards on six carries, but had a key seven-yard gain that helped sustain an Arkansas drive before his teammate De'Anthony Curtis was given a chance to show what he could do.
Against South Carolina, Smith crossed the 1,000 yard mark, the ninth Razorback player to do so. He sustained a stinger near the end of the first half, however.
That led the Razorback coaching staff to put Johnson and high school teammate Brandon Barnett in at running back, and the duo helped Arkansas to a touchdown drive to finalize the scoring.
"We've been wanting to do that for two or three weeks now," Petrino said after the Kentucky game. "We have to run harder. De'Anthony [Curtis] and [Johnson] have to get more opportunities."
"That kickoff return killed us," Tulsa head coach Todd Graham said. "It was the difference in the game. I didn't expect it to happen, but give credit to Arkansas for executing."
Whether Johnson is going to continue to have doubters like Graham, or if he's on the way to an All-American kick-returning career like former Razorback Felix Jones remains to be seen.
The Texarkana native is confident in his ability, however, and he's taken it upon himself all season to set the tone for the Razorback offense and the team in general with his kickoff returns.
"I think Dennis [Johnson] showed that on his ability to return a kickoff that he is going to break tackles and that he is very fast," Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said.
Coming into the 2008 campaign, the 5-foot-8 freshman was expected to provide a healthy dose of speed and be able to take the load off of junior tailback Michael Smith.
And when Smith was suspended for the season opener against Western Illinois, Johnson got the nod at tailback.
Johnson only tallied 18 yards on six carries, but had a key seven-yard gain that helped sustain an Arkansas drive before his teammate De'Anthony Curtis was given a chance to show what he could do.
Against South Carolina, Smith crossed the 1,000 yard mark, the ninth Razorback player to do so. He sustained a stinger near the end of the first half, however.
That led the Razorback coaching staff to put Johnson and high school teammate Brandon Barnett in at running back, and the duo helped Arkansas to a touchdown drive to finalize the scoring.
"We've been wanting to do that for two or three weeks now," Petrino said after the Kentucky game. "We have to run harder. De'Anthony [Curtis] and [Johnson] have to get more opportunities."
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