Miami Hurricanes Duke Johnson is Heisman Trophy Ready

How many of you College Football fans have heard of a kid by the name of Duke Johnson who plays for the Miami Hurricanes?

If you haven’t, then let’s quickly introduce him…

2012 ALL-AMERICA, SECOND TEAM (Walter Camp)
2012 ALL-AMERICA, THIRD TEAM (CBSSports.com)
2012 ALL-AMERICA, HONORABLE MENTION (SI)
2012 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA (FWAA) – KR
2012 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA, FIRST TEAM (Phil Steele) – KR
2012 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA, SECOND TEAM (CFN, Phil Steele) – RB
2012 ALL-FRESHMAN (CBSSports.com)
2012 ALL-ACC, FIRST TEAM (Phil Steele, CBSSports.com)
2012 ALL-ACC, SECOND TEAM (ACSMA, coaches, Phil Steele)
2012 ACC OVERALL & OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (ACSMA, coaches)
2012 ACC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (Sporting News)
2012 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(source Miami Media Relations)

And that folks is the first year accomplishments of a true freshman playing on a young and rebuilding Hurricane squad under second-year head coach Al Golden…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JaHQB9odlA

 

So after a rookie season like 2012, what is next for Johnson?

To be honest, anything he wants because the sky will be the limit in 2013 including a trip to the Downtown Athletic Club for a date with destiny and the Heisman Trophy. Yes folks, this rising sophomore is that good and, baring injury, might be the kid that brings Miami Football back to the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s.

As a true freshman, Johnson started five of the 12 games and rushed 947 yards on 139 carries for a 6.8 yard-per-carry average and scored 10 touchdowns. He caught 27 passes for 221 yard which was good for an 8.7 yard average and scored one touchdown. And, last but no least, Johnson was lights out as a special teams player with 27 returns for 892 yards good for a 33 yard average and a pair of touchdowns.

So as Golden prepares his still young but tested and talented team for 2013, there is no doubt he will lean on the Duke of Football in South Florida. Because there is a great chance Miami could ride the gale forces of this Hurricane Johnson to a BCS Bowl.

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M Shannon Smallwood is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the US Basketball Writers Association.

Follow him @woodysmalls.