Dillon Johnson Has Fulfilled Expectations for Top UW Running Back

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Roman Tomashoff | Last updated 10/19/23

After coach Kalen DeBoer announced that starting running back Cameron Davis would miss the season with an injury, the Washington Huskies went looking for someone to take his place.

Over the last two games, Dillon Johnson clearly has established himself as the team's top ball carrier.

During games against Arizona and Oregon, Johnson has carried the 36 times while the rest of the Huskies have accrued 13 rushing attempts. Excluding sacks, that number drops to 10 carries for the rest of the team.

The one-time Mississippi State back has put together 191 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns over those two games and provided much-needed balance to Washington's offense. The Huskies average 119 yards per game on the ground and a more productive Johnson should continue to improve on those numbers.

Running backs coach Lee Marks was asked what he looks for at the position and Johnson has showed why he was not just a top priority in the transfer portal but envisioned as someone who would become the team's top option in the backfield.

"Physicality, the willingness to block and obviously the ability to catch the football," Marks said, naming off Johnson's top traits. "Dillon obviously has a ton of receptions and he did a good job [at Mississippi State] finishing runs on the goal line."

Johnson continues to get stronger every week. He put together his first 100-yard performance against Oregon and his health — specifically a knee, which was a major question coming into the season — no longer seems to be an issue.

After being very careful with his workload throughout spring and fall camp, the coaching staff held Johnson out of the Tulsa game, which he said was huge for his recovery.

In Washington's season opener against Boise State, Johnson rushed 7 times for 12 yards and a touchdown, but his workload has steadily increased, making him everything the coaching staff expected him to be.

Johnson has added life to the Huskies' running game as the offensive line has improved in run blocking. As the season continues, expect the former SEC back to get stronger and be even more of a factor in the offense.

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This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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