FAYETTEVILLE — Nine times during his Arkansas career, tailback Dennis Johnson has rushed for 76 or more yards in a game.
Each time, it has been against an SEC opponent.
Of Johnson’s 16 touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning kickoffs, 14 have been in SEC games or against nationally-ranked nonconference teams. He had two rushing touchdowns in the Cotton Bowl last season against Kansas State (No. 11 at the time) and a kickoff return for a touchdown against Tulsa (No. 19 at the time) in 2009.
“I think he turns it up,” quarterback Tyler Wilson said of Johnson’s big-game performances. “I think he understands the level of intensity.
“I’ve always said if there’s a guy that you want to go battle with, that you know is tough and isn’t going to leave you, it would be Dennis.
“Dennis is going to hang in there and fight. That’s what I love about him. We’ve just got to keep feeding it to him.”
Johnson, a fifth-year senior from Texarkana, leads active SEC players with 4,744 all purpose yards, and he ranks third on Arkansas’ all-time list of all-purpose runners, trailing Darren McFadden (5,881) and Felix Jones (5,099).
Of his 4,744 yards, Johnson has rushed for 1,607 on 264 carries, an average of 6.1 yards.
In Arkansas’ last two games, Johnson rushed a combined 29 times for 158 yards and 4 touchdowns in victories over Auburn and Kentucky.
“Dennis has definitely added some physicalness to the running game, because it seems like he never goes down on the first hit,” offensive tackle David Hurd said. “Most of the time not on the second hit.
“Usually you’ve got to have all 11 people on the defense to take him down it seems like.”
Johnson has helped revive Arkansas’ rushing offense while playing with a broken bone in his left hand. The injury is healing, running backs coach Tim Horton said, but is still painful for Johnson.
“Dennis has got some toughness to him, and he’s a very competitive person,” Horton said. “He’s had a history here of playing well when we really need him and doing it in big games.”
Johnson had a career-high 160 rushing yards last season against Ole Miss, Arkansas’ opponent Saturday in Little Rock. His other top two rushing games are against LSU (127 rushing yards in 2008) and Florida (107 in 2009). Last season he rushed for 98 yards against Mississippi State, 97 against Tennessee and 86 against South Carolina.
“Dennis’ biggest problem has been consistency, and taking care of the ball better,”Horton said. “One thing that he is doing better this year is he’s a lot more consistent on the practice field.
“Sometimes in the past he’d be hot one day and cold the next, and sometimes he played like that. This year he’s been a lot more consistent just in terms of every day attitude and coming to work every day.”
Coach John L. Smith said Johnson has shown more leadership and an improved attitude in recent weeks.
“I keep reiterating how positive he’s been, how much of a help he’s been on the practice field,” Smith said. “How his demeanor, his body language, everything about him, has changed.
“He’s being positive not only when he’s out there competing and playing, but when he’s on the sideline and when he’s at practice. I really have to pat Dennis on the back.
“We sat down and had a little talk about his demeanor and how he has to help everybody else. ... He took it to heart and has done a great job. I love him.”
Johnson led Arkansas in rushing for the first time this season when he had 17 carries for 76 yards at Auburn, including a pair of 2-yard touchdowns, as the Razorbacks won 24-7 to break a four-game losing streak.
“It was the will to win,” Johnson said.
In Arkansas’ 49-7 victory over Kentucky in a weather shortened game, Johnson made the most of his touches, rushing 12 times for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns and adding a 5-yard touchdown on his only reception.
“I feel good,” he said. “The o-line is blocking better, and we’re all making plays.”
After the Auburn game, Johnson was asked about fans having negative Twitter comments during the Razorbacks’ losing streak.
“People are going to say what they’re going to say, but if we keep winning ... then it should wipe away,” Johnson said of the criticism. “You look at it and you just go about your business. Hopefully, they’ll be nicer to us.”
Horton said Johnson has helped rally the Razorbacks and given his teammates added confidence.
“When adversity strikes, sometimes in the past he’s kind of gone into a funk,” Horton said. “But the last couple of games, he’s really responded, and it’s been noticeable in practice as well with the way he’s encouraged the other guys.
“The coaches do all we can, but we’re not in between the lines. Dennis is there, and he can pat them on the back or kick them in the rear or give them a good word, and he’s been doing that kind of stuff lately.”
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said Johnson’s play in recent games has reflected how he’s practiced.
“You practice hard, you have good preparation, and that lets you go into the game with confidence,” Petrino said. “Then usually what happens is you play good.”
Johnson’s play can fire up his teammates.
“Even if it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a positive play, he’ll get you 2 or 3 yards willing himself that direction,” Wilson said. “That puts you in a better situation as an offensive coordinator calling plays and as a quarterback and the rest of the offense operating.
“He attacks the runs, and that’s huge. If we continue to do that, we’re pretty lethal.”Dennis a menace
Here is a list of the top rushing games in Dennis Johnson’s career, all vs SEC teams:
YEAR OPP. RU-YDS
2011 Ole Miss 15-160
2008 LSU 18-127
2009 Florida 14-107
2011 Miss. State 14-98
2011 Tennessee 11-97
2011 S. Carolina 15-86
2012 Kentucky 12-82
2009 LSU 9-78
2012 Auburn 17-76
All-purpose
A look at the top 10 in career all purpose yards for the Arkansas Razorbacks:
NAME (YEARS) TOTAL
Darren McFadden (2005-2007) 5,881
Felix Jones (2005-2007) 5,099
Dennis Johnson (2008-Present) 4,744
Gary Anderson (1979-1982) 4,535
Dickey Morton (1971-1973) 4,070
Ben Cowins (1975-1978) 3,750
Cedric Cobbs (1999-2003) 3,657
DeCori Birmingham (2001-2004) 3,610
James Rouse (1985-1989) 3,583
Lance Alworth (1959-1961) 3,332
Sports, Pages 20 on 10/22/2012