Johnson thriving as Arkansas' big back

Arkansas running back Dominique Johnson carries the ball during a game against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Fayetteville.

Arkansas sophomore running back Dominique Johnson has scored a touchdown in each of Arkansas’ first three games and hopes to extend that streak against Texas A&M in a familiar place on Saturday.

Johnson (6-1, 235) got an early shot at playing at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, where the No. 16 Razorbacks (3-0) and No. 7 Aggies (3-0) will meet Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

“I didn’t play any high school games (there), but I played some 7-on-7 games and some pee-wee games,” said Johnson, who first played in the stadium when he was eight or nine years old. “It is going to be a really different atmosphere from that and I am really excited to play there with my teammates at a real college level with college fans as a ranked team against a ranked team.”

Johnson, who has been a part of a four-man Razorback running back rotation this season, was a high school star at nearby Crowley, where he rushed for just under 2,500 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior and senior.

“It is pretty exciting to go back home and play in the Cowboys' stadium,” Johnson said. “I live maybe 20 minutes from there. It is going to be exciting to have my family there, and hopefully we will come out with a win.”

Johnson, who flipped his pledge from Missouri to Arkansas when former Tigers coach Barry Odom became the defensive coordinator, admits it has been hard finding tickets for family and friends with so many Texans on Arkansas’ roster.

“A lot of parents, a lot of people want to travel to the Cowboys' stadium because they haven’t been here," he said, "so it is hard to try and get tickets from other people.”

Trelon Smith has rushed 42 times for 216 yards and thee touchdowns, Rocket Sanders 25 times for 137 yards and a score, Johnson has 15 carries for 132 yards and trio of touchdowns, and AJ Green has contributed 14 carries for 104 yards and scored once.

Arkansas is averaging 282.3 yards rushing per game.

“When I get these opportunities, especially to go in and score a touchdown every game, being able to be the big back in the red zone, I just want to get it done in the red zone,” Johnson said.

“We have different backs and there can be a period of time when you are standing on the sidelines and somebody else may be in the game, but you have got to stay ready because you never know when you are going to be in the game. I just stay ready all the time because you never know when you are going to be in there.”

Johnson was moved to tight end for a couple of practices in preseason camp. When he moved back to his old position, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Johnson was a new man.

“Moving me to tight end lit a fire under me because I want to be a running back, and being a running back is all I have ever been,” Johnson said. “Moving me to tight end just made me want to go harder as a running back.”