Johnson earns SEC Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday.

Johnson rushed for a career-high 160 yards on 15 carries in Saturday’s 29-24 win at Ole Miss. The rushing total broke his previous career high of 127 yards set in 2008 against LSU. The Texarkana, Ark., native jumpstarted Arkansas’ comeback from a 17-0 deficit in the second quarter with a 52-yard touchdown run on 3rd-and-14 to pull the Razorbacks to within 17-7 heading into halftime.

After the break, Johnson ran the ball 13 times for 109 yards. On UA’s final scoring drive, Johnson carried the ball four straight times for 44 yards leading up to a field goal from Zach Hocker that pushed the lead to 29-17.

This is the fourth SEC weekly honor of Johnson’s career and his first Offensive Player of the Week nod. He was named the conference’s Freshman of the Week following his performance in the 2008 LSU contest and named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2009.

Johnson is the sixth Razorback to earn SEC player of the week recognition this season and the third Offensive Player of the Week, joining Tyler Wilson and Jarius Wright who became the first duo from the same school to win SEC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after UA’s 42-38 win over Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks are on the road again this week and travel to Nashville, Tenn., to face Vanderbilt on Saturday. Kickoff from Vanderbilt Stadium is set for 11:21 a.m. on the SEC Network.