By Ryan Satsky, Maryland Athletics Communications Intern
If sophomore running back Ty Johnson can carry the momentum he gained from his final game of his rookie season into the 2016 campaign, Maryland's backfield could prove to be among the most dangerous in the Big Ten.
Johnson only logged two carries in the finale against Rutgers, but he surely made them count in sensational fashion.
In the first half, Johnson hauled in a sideline pitch from quarterback Caleb Rowe and took it straight to the end zone from 43 yards out, before outdoing himself by taking an inside handoff 44 yards up the middle that resulted in another six points for the Terrapins.
While the sample size is limited, Johnson has shown he is clearly ready for a larger role within Maryland's offense after posting 250 rush yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. With former starter Brandon Ross graduated, Johnson will likely see that come to fruition as he fights for playing time with senior Wes Brown and Virginia Tech transfer Trey Edmunds.
The Cumberland, Md. native starred at Fort Hill High School where he racked up more than 4,800 all-purpose yards and 65 touchdowns during his illustrious career. Johnson quickly learned, however, that he would need to fine-tune every aspect of his game to consistently compete in the Big Ten.
“It's not just about running the ball, but also having all of the other basics and fundamentals like blocking and catching,” Johnson explained. “One of the biggest things that I learned last season was my form on blocking, and I've continued to work on that. I just want to continue working on my fundamentals.”
Johnson is excited about the new coaching regime, specifically the notoriously high-tempo offense that has been implemented by offensive coordinator Walt Bell.
“The tempo of the offense is great. I think I'm fit for it because of my speed and how fast it is,” Johnson noted. “If [Coach Bell] asks me to do something, that's what I'm going to do. If you tell me to jump, I say 'how high?' I'm going to go in there and get the job done.”
Johnson evidently brings a positive attitude with him to the football field, which is a trait he believes to be essential playing under new head coach DJ Durkin and his staff.
“These coaches are the real deal,” Johnson said. “You have to come in here prepared. You have to have a good attitude. The intensity is going to eat you away if you don't.”
Johnson embraces the intensity it with a mentality of perseverance and determination.
“Everyone has 15 practices for spring ball, but we're going to make them count. It's how we do it. We're going to go hard every play,” Johnson proclaimed. “There's not going to be any breaks. You're going to do this, and if you're going to make a mistake, you're going to make it going 100 miles per hour. Just don't stop. Go as hard as you can for as long as you can, and don't worry.”
As Johnson looks to build upon a promising freshman season, he shared a few personal goals he aims to achieve as a sophomore.
“One of my goals is to make sure I'm always doing my job. If there's any spot on the field where I can contribute so that we can get the field advantage, get in the end zone and score more points, then I'm going to do it,” Johnson said. “Another goal is to not get down on myself, because that's one of my weaknesses. I've definitely transitioned from last year with improving my mental attitude.”
The way that Johnson approaches the game from a mental standpoint is undeniably impressive. It's clear that he is solely focused on his team winning football games.
