Sooners' Johnson returning to old self
He's getting healthy just in time for Texas
Sooners' Johnson returning to old self

By Scott Wright

Published: October 2, 2007

NORMAN — Oklahoma receiver Juaquin Iglesias hears the questions on a weekly basis, mostly from family.

"Where's Manny?” they ask. "When's Manny gonna get the ball?”

So far, Manuel — or Manny — Johnson has barely been a blip on the OU stat sheet. Five catches for 26 yards. One more catch than fourth-string running back Mossis Madu and one more yard than Johnson himself has passed for this season.

So where is Manny?

In the same situation he was in a year ago heading into the Texas game — at least he hopes.

Johnson was coming back from a torn meniscus suffered last preseason and had four receptions for 36 yards in the four games before the Sooners and Longhorns met.

In the Cotton Bowl, he caught four passes for 55 yards, a performance that sparked a 36-catch, 378-yard season.

This year, that same knee has been bugging him after he sprained the meniscus against Miami. Now — like last year — he's getting healthy just in time for Texas.

"I'm starting to get back to my old self,” said Johnson, a product of Gilmer, Texas, which is about 125 miles from Dallas. "I still played in all the games, but I didn't feel like I was 100 percent. The coaches knew that, too.”

Johnson was determined to play through the pain, because he knew his team needed him.

OU's receiver depth took a hit early. Brandon Caleb suffered a knee injury and hasn't played since the season opener. Ryan Broyles was suspended. Fred Strong left the team.

"We got kind of slim in numbers,” Johnson said. "That set the receiver position back a little bit. So I fought through it and it's getting better now.”

Iglesias tells his family the same thing he'd tell anyone who asked what has led to Johnson's slow start.

"You see him starting to make plays in practice again,” said Iglesias, who leads the team with 29 catches for 459 yards. "It's not like he's the last guy we're trying to get the ball to. He has as much talent as anybody on the team. He's just as good as I am, but sometimes there ain't enough balls to go around.”

Johnson's injury and minimal production have led to some early frustration, but the frustration is only with himself.

"There's a couple situations — and he'll be the first to tell you — where if he had adjusted a little differently, then he'd have different (receiving) numbers,” co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin said. "He's probably a little frustrated, but we've been pleased with his effort and what he's done when he's on the field.

"As these coverages keep changing and people try to do stuff to different guys, he's a good enough player that his time's coming.”

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