Duke Johnson Named Third-Team Preseason All-America

Courtesy UM

Duke Johnson Named Third-Team Preseason All-America

Johnson was first-team Preseason All-ACC selection as RB, KR

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – 2012 ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America performer Duke Johnson was named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America Third Team announced Wednesday.

Johnson was named to the third team as a running back. Last week, Johnson was tabbed first-team Preseason All-ACC as both a running back and kick returner by Phil Steele.

The Miami product enjoyed one of the greatest freshman seasons in Hurricanes history in 2012, amassing 2,060 all-purpose yards and 13 TDs, while breaking Clinton Portis’ 13-year-old school freshman rushing record with 947 yards. His 892 kick return yards were a single-season record, while also tying the school single-season mark with two kick returns for touchdowns.

For his stellar freshman season, Johnson was named a first-team Freshman All-America selection as a kick return and a second-team selection as a running back by Phil Steele.

Our take: Well deserved! With a stellar O line in front of him, and a passing attack that will make it impossible to stack the box, Duke Johnson could easily rush for 1500 yards and 15+ TDs. The only question is, will Miami find a good enough back-up to spell him from time to time, and can he handle an increased load.