A year ago this time, Duke Johnson was still a well-kept secret, but after an explosive freshman campaign, the college football world is on to #8.
Johnson enters the 2013 season on the preseason award watch list for the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, Paul Hornung Award and Walter Camp Award. Johnson broke Miami’s freshman running record in 2013, carrying 139 times for 947 yards and ten touchdowns and goes into year two, the featured back and one of the nation’s best.
The Hurricanes have five other offensive players earning some preseason chatter – quarterback Stephen Morris (Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, AFCA Good Works Team nominee), tight end Clive Walford (John Mackey Award), offensive lineman Brandon Linger (Outland Trophy) and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (Biletnikoff Award).
Pat O’Donnell, a Cincinatti transfer is up for the Ray Guy Award, going to the nation’s best punter. Miami has no defensive players named to any preseason award watch lists.