Upcoming rehab no stranger to Michigan running back Drake Johnson

Michigan redshirt sophomore running back Drake Johnson suffered his second major ACL injury since the 2013 season opener, rivals.com reported.

It happened during the third quarter of Michigan’s season-ending loss at Ohio State.

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Johnson, who had the same knee surgically repaired after just two carries in last year’s season opener, was having a fine day Saturday (Dec.1) against the Buckeyes. The local star (Ann Arbor Pioneer)  had just plunged across Ohio State’s goal line from four-yards out to even the score at 21 with 7:41 left in the third quarter.

Two Rushing Touchdowns

Up to that point, Johnson had rushed for 74 yards on 15 carries, an 11-yard catch, and a rare throw-back pass to quarterback Devin Gardner. His efforts produced a pair of touchdowns.

But Johnson was finished for the day. He’s expected to miss spring practice, but he might be back for what looks like a great battle for carries next fall.

Loaded backfield

If Johnson (60 carries, 361 yards)  returns, he will join De’Veon Smith (108-519 ), Derrick Green (82-471), Ty Isaac (Southern Cal transfer) and Justice Hayes (48-213) in a fairly st0ut backfield.

Playing his home games in the shadow of Michigan Stadium, Johnson was well known in the state, but not the rest of the country. He would spend his off-season time running track—and run it well—instead of  attending football camps.

Johnson was a prep All-American in the 110-meter high hurdles, in addition to anchoring the national championship shuttle hurtle team as a junior.

2014 Michigan Rushing Statistics

RUSHING         GP-GS  Att Gain Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long Avg/G
--------------------------------------------------------------
Smith, De'Veon  12-2   108  536   17  519   4.8   6   61  43.2
Green, Derrick   6-6    82  488   17  471   5.7   3   62  78.5
Johnson, Drake  12-2    60  368    7  361   6.0   4   32  30.1
Gardner, Devin  12-11   98  462  204  258   2.6   4   25  21.5
Hayes, Justice  12-1    48  230   17  213   4.4   0   18  17.8
Norfleet, D.    11-4     9   67    3   64   7.1   0   21   5.8
Kerridge, Joe   12-3     3   56    0   56  18.7   0   52   4.7
Morris, Shane    5-1     9   42   14   28   3.1   0   27   5.6
Shallman, Wyatt  9-0     1    5    0    5   5.0   0    5   0.6
Canteen, Freddy 11-3     1    0    3   -3  -3.0   0    0  -0.3
TEAM             5-0     4    0    7   -7  -1.8   0    0  -1.4
Funchess, Devin 11-11    2    0   11  -11  -5.5   0    0  -1.0
Total.......... 12     425 2254  300 1954   4.6  17   62 162.8
stats courtesy mgoblue.com

Basketball Notes:

The Michigan basketball team will definitely be without backup freshman forward D.J. Wilson for Tuesday’s (Dec. 2) ACC/Big Ten Challenge against Syracuse.

Nov 15, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) moves the ball against the Hillsdale Chargers at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sportsagainst Syracuse (Crisler Center, 7:30 pm). Wilson, who averages just 4.8 minutes per game, may miss up to four weeks because of a

sprained

knee. He was competing for playing time with Kameron Chatman, Ricky Doyle and Mark Donnal for the 3/4 position.

On a more serious note, starting point guard Derrick Walton Jr. may also miss the Syracuse battle  with a sore toe. Walton, who averages 13.8 points-per-game along with three assists and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Michigan head coach John Beilein lists Walton’s injury as day to day.

Without Walton, Spike Albrecht will run the point, with Caris Le Vert occasionally bringing the ball up the court.

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