HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Devon Johnson was an unknown commodity going into the 2014 season as he transitioned from tight end to running. 1,767 rushing yards later everyone in Conference USA knows who “Rockhead” is and he is already getting national preseason recognition in 2015.
Johnson was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the 2015 season. The Maxwell Football Club presents the award each year to the best player in country. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota won the award last season.
The decision to move Johnson into the backfield last year made Marshall’s offense balanced and dynamic, forcing defensive coordinators to choose if they wanted to defend quarterback Rakeem Cato and the pass or dedicated seven men in the box to attempt to slow down Johnson’s bullish running style.
Few teams were able to slow Johnson down. He rushed for over 100 yards in 10 games and set a Marshall single-game record with 272 yards in a win over Florida Atlantic. Johnson led all running backs in FBS with 8.58 yards per carry and was fifth nationally with 135.9 yards per game.
Johnson was First-Team All-Conference last year and one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.
Semifinalists for the 2015 Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 2, while names of the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 23. The winner of the 2015 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show Dec. 10, 2015. The formal presentations will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2016.