With talent to spare, Johnson adjusts attitude

Dennis Johnson has the speed, the power and the smarts to be Arkansas’ go-to running back.

But take a look at the depth chart and Johnson’s name is usually hard to find.

It may be hard for some Arkansas fans to figure out why, but Coach Bobby Petrino has been very clear in his reasons for keeping Johnson off the field. Petrino even continued to explain himself at a booster club gathering in Harrison two weeks before spring practice.

“We all know Dennis Johnson is very capable of having big games,” Petrino said on March 8. “He just has to get a little more consistent and be able to stay healthy.”

Johnson was complaining and was worried more about himself than his teammates at times the last two seasons. Running backs coach Tim Horton saw it as well, and Johnson watched on from the sidelines when tough running was needed.

“That’s one thing that hurts Dennis,” Petrino said. “He gets nicked up a little bit. He’s got a little bit of a track mentality in him, where you have to feel like a thoroughbred 100 percent before you can go.”

But at running back “you don’t get a lot of games where you’re 100 percent because you take all the hits,” Petrino explained. Running backs play through injury and the Hogs’ starting tailback the last two seasons is a prime example.

Michael Smith saw more time in the training room than any offensive player for the Razorbacks in the last two seasons. He battled hamstring issues most of his career and his playing days ended without much fanfare in November as a result.

Dennis Johnson credits a serious discussion with his parents during spring break for his change in attitude. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS)

He was a leader and battled through the pain. Most importantly, Smith was an example for his teammates and one Johnson has finally started to follow.

“For the first time since he’s been here, he’s become an encourager,” Horton said. “In the past he would get in the huddle, was very quiet and was worried about himself.”

Petrino noticed it as well after Johnson shined in the Hogs’ first scrimmage of the spring, when he rushed for 75 yards on seven carries and had one touchdown to lead all the running backs.

Johnson changed his tune during spring break. He met with his parents after Arkansas’ depth chart was released and saw his name among the several listed under “OR” as second-teamers.

Perhaps most noticeable was that Johnson, now a junior, is one of the oldest guys in the backfield.

“They just told me to go out there, encourage others and be a leader — be what I was in high school,” Johnson said of the serious chat with his parents. “I’m taking my actions from last year and changing them.”

Johnson has been a leader in the huddle for his younger teammates early this spring. He’s encouraged and critiqued his teammates after plays and, when things have gone wrong, has been a calming force in the backfield.

“That’s a huge step right there,” Petrino said.

If Johnson continues to be a leader, don’t be surprised to see him in a starting role alongside fellow Texarkana native Ryan Mallett in the fall. Big plays, as we’ve seen as a starter his freshman season against LSU and last season against Florida, could be a common scene.

The talent is obviously there to get the job done and be a go-to runner. He’s been described as a bowling ball on wheels, and we’ve continued to see him bowl over defenders this spring for yards after contact.

One only has to watch his game against then-No. 1 Florida last season to see he has the potential to be an elite running back in the Southeastern Conference.

After all, he was the first runner to rush for more than 100 yards against the Gators in 2009 and his 25-yard bruising run during the third quarter definitely made Arkansas’ highlight reel.

You may remember it. Florida showed blitz and Johnson ran into the teeth of oncoming defenders, breaking two tackles and knocking down two more Florida defenders as he stomped to the left sideline. A defender seemed to hit Johnson out of bounds late, prompting Petrino to rewind the play more than once on his television show while criticizing the game’s officials.

It was a bruising play and the most physical run by any Razorback last season and his performance was perhaps the best by any running back in the Razorbacks’ deep stable in the backfield.

Yet the sophomore started just two games and carried the ball 57 times for 342 yards. His attitude wasn’t matching the coaching staff’s expectations, and saying he was slowed by injury upset the coaches.

“Injuries don’t bother me any more,” Johnson affirmed this week.

It’s quite a change for Johnson and an unexpected one at that. As mentioned, Johnson was still a bothersome topic for Petrino heading into the spring. In fact, when discussing the four running backs in Harrison last month, Petrino mentioned Johnson last.

But not any more.

“He’s taking the Mike Smith role,” sophomore running back Knile Davis said.

And he’s continuing to impress on the field.

“He’s powerful, he’s quick and I’m starting to see him grow up and become a leader,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “You can listen to guys in the huddle and hear him make comments to try and get his guys going.

“I like what Dennis is doing right now.”

Make sure to check out WholeHogSports.com and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates with @bmarcello and @wholehogsports.

— Brandon Marcello