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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 21, 2014 – Marlon Mack has become a household name because of his breakout season, but USF fans are finding out the Bulls have other players with star power in the backfield.
True freshman back D'Ernest Johnson was another big get for the Bulls when they assembled the top recruiting class in The American and the former four-star recruit is paying off in crucial situations.
“We call him Mr. Clutch. When the game gets tight he gets excited and fired up and really wants to make plays,” head coach Willie Taggart said.
Mr. Clutch sure came through in last week's dramatic 14-13 comeback win at SMU that kept USF's postseason hopes alive. With the offense needing a boost, Johnson carried defenders with him to the end zone during his 12-yard touchdown reception that helped cut the deficit to 13-7 with 8:02 remaining.
“You just watch those runs and that catch when he scored. He was determined to score and do whatever it takes to help this football team,” Taggart said.
SMU punted after Johnson's score and the Bulls headed back to Tampa with a win after putting together a 21-play scoring drive. Johnson's accounted for 37 yards on the longest scoring drive in program history from a plays standpoint with a 20-yard catch on third-and-12 from the USF 33. Mr. Clutch came through again with a 4-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the USF 38.
“That was great to see, especially from a freshman coming in and making those big-time plays,” Taggart said.
Johnson's reputation for producing in high-pressure situations helped him gain a lot of college attention from USF and other big-name schools like Florida, Louisville, Georgia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Vanderbilt and Minnesota.
“We're lucky to have him because he had his choices,” running backs coach Telly Lockette said.
The former Immokalee (Fla.) High School standout racked up 1,855 yards, 19 rushing touchdowns and 28 total scores in his prep career while showing his versatility in the process. Johnson made 28 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns as a senior and also served as the team's punter.
Johnson gave football fans in Immokalee, a close-knit community in Collier County, a lot to feel good about in 2012 when he helped lead the Indians to the Class 5A state championship game. Johnson helped Immokalee reach the title game by rushing for 113 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-21 state semifinal victory over Miami Jackson High School, led by USF true freshman QB Quinton Flowers.
“The future looks good here at the University of South Florida,” Lockette said.
Learn More About D'Ernest
Cool Family Connection: Johnson is the second cousin of former NFL running back Edgerrin James, a 2015 Hall of Fame semifinalist, who is still the Colts' franchise leader in rushing yards (9,226). James ranks 13th in NFL history with 15,610 total yards from scrimmage.
His Brother Can Play, Too: Johnson's brother, Tshumbi, is a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Cincinnati. Tshumbi played quarterback and safety at Immokalee High and was named Naples Daily News' most outstanding football player in 2011.
Johnson the Basketball Player: USF linebackers coach Raymond Woodie recruited Johnson and got a kick out of watching him play basketball in high school. Johnson was a guard but played well beyond his 5-foot-10 frame. “He was the man. Sometimes you see guys in high school that are shooters, but they don't want to play defense. He was sprinting down the court, getting in front of people, shuffling his feet with a good base and he got rebounds,” Woodie said.
Productive as a Freshman: Johnson ranks second on the team in rushing this season with 147 yards on 45 carries. Johnson also has stepped up as a receiver with seven catches for 94 yards. His highlight-reel scoring play at SMU marked the first touchdown of his collegiate career.
The USF Football program is in its 18th season and 15th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
