Late in the 4th quarter, against the USC Trojans on Saturday night in the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Washington Huskies were pinned deep in their own end of the field at the 9 yard line. There was almost a gasp by the Washington fans in attendance, as Michael Penix pitched the ball to running back Dillon Johnson. It may have been the biggest of his 26 carries on his historic night where he had the second-best rushing performance in Washington history.
His 256 yards and 4 touchdowns–second only to hall-of-famer, Hugh McElhenny’s 1950 Apple Cup performance. In that game, the College, NFL, and Washington Hall of Famer scored 5 TD and rushed for 296 yards.
The way that the Washington Huskies went after running backs in the past two offseasons, it was evident that they were looking for running backs to complement its passing game. Last season Wayne Taulapapa was one of the top play-makers on the DeBoer offense, getting more and more productive as the season went along.
Saturday night, in a battle of Heisman candidates and first-round draft picks it was the man in the white jersey 7 in white who stole the show–and secured College Football Network’s National Player of the Week.
Coach V, Kaila Olin, UW Leah, Jake Grant, and Trevor Mueller discuss everything that went into the road win against a ranked opponent.
Dillon Johnson arrived this spring from Mississippi State into a Husky running back group with several players vying for the number 1 ball carrier for a team seeking a national title.
The role appeared to be set up for Cam Davis, who had 13 rushing touchdowns last season. But when Davis went down with an injury shortly before the start of the season the Huskies turned to Will Nixon and Dillon Johnson. The Mississippi State transfer has had some injury issues of his own, meaning that managing his workload was key for getting the most out of the workhorse back. Nixon drew the start in the first two games.
In fact, according to Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Johnson started the season far from a clean bill of health.
“I would say that he was 75-80-percent week 1,” Grubb said at Monday’s press conference. “Now I think you’re getting closer to where he’s getting close to his top.”
His week 9 game suggests that if he’s not at the top of his game, look out.
Against the USC Trojans Johnson touched the ball 28 times for 267 yards and 4 scores. In his previous 4 games, he had 281 rushing yards on 62 carries for a 4.5 yards per carry average. Against USC 36 fewer carries he 9.84 yards per carry.
“That was a physical game for him so we gotta take care of him and get him back to full strength,” Grubb said about Johnson’s historic performance in Los Angeles.
After his 53-yard burst from Washington’s 9 yard line, Johnson didn’t see the field again until the Huskies neared the goal line. The next 26 yards and 4 minutes and 39 seconds were chewed up by carries by Tybo Rogers, passes to Ja’Lynn Polk, Giles Jackson and Rome Odunze. Grubb worked hard to manage Johnson’s workload down the stretch against USC.
That’s something that Grubb has done all year as he’s expertly managed his workload on his way to this point.
Johnson started the season with just 10 touches in his first game in purple and gold, followed by just 8 against Tulsa in game two but a 45-yard.
“(Dillon) is a lot better (health-wise),” Grubb noted. “I actually pointed that out to the offense as far as getting stronger as the season goes on.”
Grubb went on to say that it’s the player’s job to take care of their bodies so that they “can be in position to be a difference-maker.”
Johnson’s workload led to him being at close to full strength in Los Angeles.
Game 1: 7 rushes 12 yards, 3 receptions 20 yards
Game 2: Did not participate
Game 3: 8 rush 71 yards, no rec
Game 4: 10 rush 66 yards, 1 rec 9 yards
Game 5: 16 rush 91 yards, 5 rec 48 yards
Game 6: 20 rush 100 yards, 2 rec 10 yards
Game 7: 8 rush 6 yards, 2 rec 9 yards
Game 8: 18 rush 84 yards, no rec
Game 9: 26 rush 256 yards, 2 rec 11 yards
“As a football player, he’s got a lot to prove and to be even better,” Grubb said. “I mean that in a really good way–I think his top end is really really high.”
Yikes.
