Blue-chip back Johnson has shot at encore

By Jake Trotter

Published: April 5, 2008

NORMAN — As the only healthy running back on roster back in January, sophomore Mossis Madu was somewhat apprehensive about spring drills.

"I thought I was going to be in there dying,” Madu said. "Like a summer workout or something.”

Turned out, Madu didn't have to shoulder every handoff. Nor did OU transform into a five-wide offense out of necessity.

That's because blue-chip running back recruit Justin Johnson enrolled early to participate in spring drills.

And after the first scrimmage last Saturday, OU discovered it didn't have just a raw freshman to spell Madu for a few plays, but a progressing talent who figures to improve as the spring rolls along.

"Justin has so much to learn, but he's a good, hardworking kid and he's coming along,” Stoops said. "(When he first arrived) he wasn't used to the pace and how physical everything is, but he's beginning to match it and get more comfortable out there.

"In the short time he's been here, he's made a big jump already.”

Today in OU's second scrimmage open to the public, Johnson will have the opportunity for an encore.

Johnson was one of the few bright spots for a scoreless offense in the first scrimmage as he led the Sooners in rushing with 57 yards on 17 carries.

"He's still a young guy. He doesn't trust it, he's still looking,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "He needs to learn to just level and run. But he's a very good back and he's doing well, and for a young guy he's doing really well.”

Johnson was regarded by many recruiting analysts as one of the top 20 prospects from the state of Texas.

The 6-foot-1, 196-pound cousin of Sooner wide receiver Manuel Johnson signed with OU after rushing for 2,164 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior at Texas' Gilmer High School last fall.

Justin Johnson also helped reel in OU's final commitment for the 2008 class — Gilmer teammate Lamar Harris, a defensive back.

At Gilmer, Johnson himself was also a standout defensive player, a linebacker good enough that other colleges were recruiting him for that position instead of running back.

In the scrimmage, Johnson displayed some of that natural power by barreling over defensive players for tough yards.

"He runs hard,” said projected starting running back DeMarco Murray, who is still rehabbing from a dislocated kneecap. "He may mess up here and there, but he runs hard, plays hard and takes care of the football.

"He's gaining that respect from the defensive side. When he first got here they were throwing him around a little bit. But now he's definitely gaining their respect.”

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