FAYETTEVILLE — Nearly tripling Dominique Johnson’s workload didn’t faze Sam Pittman.
Especially since Johnson’s increased workload overloaded Mississippi State’s defense as Pittman planned.
Johnson, the 6-1, 235-pound sophomore running back, never logged more than six carries in the Razorbacks' previous eight games.
Last Saturday against Mississippi State, Johnson carried 17 times for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. Johnson’s final two totes with 21 seconds left produced the winning 4-yard touchdown and game-sealing two-point conversion.
So, no, Pittman responded to media Monday, he didn’t sweat nearly tripling Johnson’s burden upping his carries from six to 17.
“He was running pretty good at the end of the game, didn’t you think?” Pittman said. “So we could probably give him a few more.”
That’s been Pittman’s plan for a while.
Basically a 2021 running back rookie, Johnson worked his way up the August preseason depth chart.
He started the preseason behind 2020 leading rusher incumbent Trelon Smith, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, and then over the summer behind the highly recruited track sprinter football freshman AJ Green.
Johnson even got moved to tight end for a day because the tight end depth was injury thinned compared to running back.
But Johnson’s physical power augmented not by track speed but certainly deceptively good speed, kept catching Pittman’s eye.
Not because others weren’t doing the job. They were and still are.
Smith and Sanders each played strong roles on series netting points against Mississippi State.
Nevertheless Johnson kept moving up, first on short-yardage roles that gradually expanded.
Perhaps too gradually to suit Pittman. He’s publicly stated for a few weeks now that Johnson needs more carries.
Few head coaches are more supportive of their assistants than Pittman. Throughout he’s praised play-calling offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and running backs coach Jimmy Smith.
But after the 45-3 romp over UAPB, Pittman seemed miffed that Johnson didn’t play until the second quarter for his six carries netting 91 yards.
Asked the Monday before the Mississippi State game about Johnson starting the game with the ball or if Johnson plays most effectively off the bench, Pittman responded, “Come to practice.”
For the portion of practice that media sees, Johnson conspicuously ran first team.
He started Saturday’s game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium and finished it as the workhorse that wearied Mississippi State couldn’t corral.
Briles and Pittman must divvy carries for running quarterback KJ Jefferson, Smith and Sanders, plus receiver Treylon Burks out of the backfield. But expect Johnson again toting a workhorse’s load against LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
“We talked about what could be his max load,” Pittman said. “I don’t know that there’s an answer. You can just feel it at some point. But I think 17-plus is a number if you’re going to rush the ball 40 times.”