Johnson not the only UNI back with talent

CEDAR FALLS - It's not hard to find the Big Man on Campus in Cedar Falls.

Northern Iowa running back David Johnson is the unquestioned star for the football team, made evident at Friday night's UNI Spring Game, where Johnson's was easily the longest autograph line and countless fans asked for photos on the field.

But Johnson's well-earned attention tends to overshadow what the other running backs on the roster can do. On Friday, with Johnson not playing in the game, Panther fans got a glimpse.

'I'm feeling really great - ankle is 100 percent, feeling really good (and) just working on little things,” Johnson said on Friday. 'The (other running backs) bring the same thing as me. They're just as good. When I was hurt against Youngstown (State last year), they came out and we won.

'That proves to everyone that without me, we're (still) successful the same way. They all can play just like me.”

Just like him would be a tall order for any running back.

Johnson sits fourth all-time in career rushing, just 874 yards from the all-time UNI record (Corey Lewis, with 4,003), with 3,129 career yards. He's fourth all time in rushing touchdowns with 32, and seventh all-time in career points with 264.

The records and his proximity to them are impossible to ignore completely, especially with fans, friends and media constantly reminding him of it.

'With everyone coming back, it being my senior year, we're just focused on winning the conference … if I end up breaking records, that's a good benefit added on to it,” Johnson said. 'I'm definitely aware of it. Who wouldn't be, in that situation? All my teammates and media and everything talking to me about it, I'm full aware.

'I try to keep it from being a distraction But with everyone talking to me about it, constantly coming up, it's definitely in my head. I try to keep it out, focus on our team and making everyone behind me better.”

Those behind him would be fellow senior Evan Williams (48 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns in nine games last season), sophomore Tyvis Smith (38 carries for 161 yards and one touchdown in six games), and redshirt freshmen J'Veyon Browning and Rashadeem Gray.

Williams, Smith, Browning and Gray got a chance to shine during the spring game. Browning had seven carries for 50 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown run, and Smith had 11 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.

'I liked J'Veyon Browing because he hit the hole fast. I liked Tyvis because he hit the hole hard,” said UNI Coach Mark Farley. 'We've got to be a power team, we've got to be a speed team, and it kind of fits where the running backs are.”

The other backs don't hide from how good Johnson is, and definitely look up to him as someone to show them the way - both on and off the field.

And for Browning, the learning doesn't stop at Johnson. In battling for carries as a No. 2 back, he benefits from the wealth of talent at the position.

'David's a great player. I'm just trying to follow in his footsteps and learn as much as I can from him,” Browning said. 'I look at (Williams) as a leader, too. Him helping me will help me out, definitely, when he and David are gone.”

Williams was the early favorite for the No. 2 running back position, but Browning's performance opened some eyes.

For Williams, having young players there to push him is definitely a positive, and makes everyone better. And if Farley can add production and reliability from backs not named Johnson to what the senior star has been able to do, it could be a great year offensively for Northern Iowa.

'It's been great (this spring), we've had great competition,” Williams said. 'We all work hard, we all fight every day. I think everyone is going to get a shot this year, so it'll be good.

'Me and J'Veyon are cool. We compete and we make each other better. There's no bad blood or anything. We just push each other and work for it.”

The Panthers kick off the 2014 season on Aug. 30 at Kinnick Stadium against Iowa.

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