Finally, Johnson gets chance to carry the ball

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 10, 2001 | 10:38 a.m.

It took a lot longer than he would have liked, but UNLV senior Jabari Johnson is finally "the man" at tailback.

Since signing with the University of Washington in 1997 following an all-state senior campaign at Dobson High School in Mesa, Ariz., Johnson has carried the football a grand total of 19 times for 58 yards and zero touchdowns.

But the trio of Jeremi Rudolph, Kevin Brown and James Wofford, who combined to rush for 1,992 yards a year ago, has graduated. That leaves only the 5-11, 200-pound Johnson and junior Joe Haro, a reserve defensive back a year ago, with the inside track for most of the carries heading into the season.

Not that Johnson is complaining.

"It feels great," he said following Thursday's first full squad fall practice at Rebel Park. "I still have a lot of things to accomplish and a lot of goals to complete. But it feels good so far."

Nineteen carries in four years of college isn't exactly what Johnson had in mind after rushing for 1,134 yards, including a school single-game record 285 yards against Mesa Red Mountain, his senior year with the Mustangs.

"Man, I tell you what, it's been a long haul," Johnson said. "But I'm here, I've made it, and hopefully we can just keep it going."

Johnson redshirted his first year at Washington and then carried just twice for zero yards in 1998. The Huskies fired Jim Lambright after that season and brought in Rick Neuheisel. Johnson decided to transfer to UNLV shortly thereafter.

Johnson then sat out the 1999 season per NCAA transfer rules. Last year he was slowed by nagging injuries in fall camp and fell behind Rudolph and Brown on the depth chart. He carried only 17 times for 58 yards in mop-up duty, including twice for 12 yards in UNLV's 31-14 Las Vegas Bowl win over Arkansas.

Meanwhile, Washington made a run at the national title and won the Rose Bowl. Still, Johnson said he has no regrets about transferring.

"There's no place I'd rather be than here playing for Coach (John) Robinson," he said. "It's take a lot of hard work and determination and perseverance to get this point and I want to make the most of it."

"Jabari has good size, runs low to the ground, and has surprising quickness," Robinson said. "He's a very determined, committed football player. In fact, he's as committed to what he's doing as anybody I've ever coached. I think each day he'll improve a lot. We're counting on a real solid year from him."

The good news is that Johnson, who played as well as any wide receiver in camp on Thursday before getting hurt, could be back as soon as today.

"I was coming out of one of my routes and I twisted it a little bit," Johnson said after watching the last half of practice with an ice bag strapped to the ankle. "I hope I can go (today). It's a day-to-day type of thing."

Thomas looked sharp throwing short and intermediate routes, but his long throws lacked the zip and accuracy he had before the surgery. In fact, several morning throws wobbled badly and fell short of their marks.

Still, the 6-4, 240-pound left-hander was happy with the results.

"I feel real good," he said. "I'm feeling progress with every practice. I'm happy. I'm glad I did that surgery and everything because I feel real good. I don't feel any pain, just tightness. I haven't thrown the deep balls since my surgery, so those are the throws I need to work on. Those deep balls are going to come. I've got time to develop."

Thomas was named one of 30 candidates for the 2001 Davey O'Brien Award on Thursday. The award, which will be announced on Dec. 6 at ESPN's College Football Awards Show in Orlando, is given annually to the nation's top college quarterback.

Burnett is slated to undergo his physical today and also fill out his paperwork. He will likely begin practicing this weekend.