Redd: Herd’s Johnson blossoms out of obscurity

[Mike Gwinn]

Herd’s Johnson blossoms out of obscurity, into national spotlight
by Derek Redd, Sports Writer


T.J. LAWHON | For the Gazette-Mail
Devon Johnson celebrates with Marshall fans after a Herd win last fall.

HUNTINGTON — The mystery surrounding Marshall running back Devon Johnson has vanished.

It began to disappear with his first game and his 55-yard rumble past the Miami (Ohio) defense. It continued to fade each time he pistoned a stiff-arm into an opponent’s helmet. By the time he shattered the Thundering Herd’s single-game rushing record with 272 yards against Florida Atlantic and became a 2014 Doak Walker Award semifinalist, it was gone.

Now everyone knows about the senior. He’s made pundits’ lists of the top running backs and top players in college football. He’s a 2015 member of the Maxwell, Doak Walker and Walter Camp award watch lists.

Here is something most of the college football world probably doesn’t know: Johnson left high school as a two-star recruit. Of last season’s top 10 rushers in the Football Bowl Subdivision — Johnson finished sixth with 1,787 yards — all but Johnson were rated at least three stars as high school seniors.

How does a college football star reach such dizzying heights of performance, yet enter the sport so unheralded?

Johnson has a couple of ideas...

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[huntersdl2007]

I think my favorite thing about him.. he seems like a genuine good young man. You never see him making wild scenes, gestures. He lets his play talk for him - very humble. Keep it up rock!

 

[mlblack16]

I think my favorite thing about him.. he seems like a genuine good young man. You never see him making wild scenes, gestures. He lets his play talk for him - very humble. Keep it up rock!

Agreed. I've rarely seen him do anything after a tremendous play other than hand the ball to the ref and either hustle back to line up or sideline if it was a touchdown. Never tries to showboat and dance around.

 

[appollo]

Sometimes when you read an article like this you think it's just hype. Having had the opportunity to talk to this young man a few times i can say without a doubt that article is spot on!!! Devon is a polite, humble young man that I hope will find his way to the NFL. One thing is for sure, no matter what, he certainly has made is father and family proud. He is and will be an outstanding ambassador for Marshall Football and Marshall University.