Coutesey: Miami Herald
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
Few players statewide have ever had playoff performances or careers like Miami Norland running back Duke Johnson.
On Friday, Johnson, a University of Miami commitment, earned a place among the state’s all-time best high school football players.
Johnson was named this season’s Mr. Florida Football award winner, given annually by the Florida Diary Farmers Association to the state’s top overall football player. Some notable past winners of the award include Tim Tebow, Anquan Boldin, Travis Henry and Daunte Culpepper.
Johnson is only the second South Florida player to ever win the award joining former Miami Northwestern and University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who won it in 2007.
Johnson led Norland (15-0) to the Class 5A state championship and its first perfect season, scoring five touchdowns in a 38-0 state final win against Crawfordville Wakulla on Dec. 16. Johnson gathered 266 all-purpose yards and was named the game’s most valuable player.
Johnson finished with 2,087 yards on 208 carries (10.0 yards per carry average) and scored a county-high 29 touchdowns.
For his career, Johnson finished with 5,069 yards rushing and 52 touchdowns. The yardage total was third in county history behind Frank Gore (Coral Gables) and Bobby Washington (Killian).
On the way to his stunning totals, Johnson delivered some of the most memorable performances in the playoffs by a Miami-Dade running back.
Against Bradenton Palmetto in the state semifinals, Johnson ran for a county-record 375 yards and scored three touchdowns to help the Vikings rally from a 20-point deficit and win 35-27. That came a week after he ran for 260 yards and four touchdowns against Belle Glade Glades Central on the road to help Norland become the first Dade team to beat the Raiders in Belle Glade in the playoffs.
In the voting for the award, Johnson finished ahead of Belle Glade Glades Day junior running back Kelvin Taylor, who set career state marks for yardage (8,975) and touchdowns (141) this past season. Other finalists were Bradenton Manatee junior quarterback junior Cord Sandberg, Orlando Dr. Phillips senior quarterback Nick Patti, Yulee junior running back Derrick Henry, St. John’s Bartram Trail senior quarterback Nathan Peterman, Tampa Berkeley Prep senior running back Nelson Agholor, and Wewahitchka senior running back Theryl Brown.
On Friday, Johnson, a University of Miami commitment, earned a place among the state’s all-time best high school football players.Johnson was named this season’s Mr. Florida Football award winner, given annually by the Florida Diary Farmers Association to the state’s top overall football player. Some notable past winners of the award include Tim Tebow, Anquan Boldin, Travis Henry and Daunte Culpepper.
Johnson is only the second South Florida player to ever win the award joining former Miami Northwestern and University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who won it in 2007.
Johnson led Norland (15-0) to the Class 5A state championship and its first perfect season, scoring five touchdowns in a 38-0 state final win against Crawfordville Wakulla on Dec. 16. Johnson gathered 266 all-purpose yards and was named the game’s most valuable player.
Johnson finished with 2,087 yards on 208 carries (10.0 yards per carry average) and scored a county-high 29 touchdowns.
For his career, Johnson finished with 5,069 yards rushing and 52 touchdowns. The yardage total was third in county history behind Frank Gore (Coral Gables) and Bobby Washington (Killian).
On the way to his stunning totals, Johnson delivered some of the most memorable performances in the playoffs by a Miami-Dade running back.
Against Bradenton Palmetto in the state semifinals, Johnson ran for a county-record 375 yards and scored three touchdowns to help the Vikings rally from a 20-point deficit and win 35-27. That came a week after he ran for 260 yards and four touchdowns against Belle Glade Glades Central on the road to help Norland become the first Dade team to beat the Raiders in Belle Glade in the playoffs.
In the voting for the award, Johnson finished ahead of Belle Glade Glades Day junior running back Kelvin Taylor, who set career state marks for yardage (8,975) and touchdowns (141) this past season. Other finalists were Bradenton Manatee junior quarterback junior Cord Sandberg, Orlando Dr. Phillips senior quarterback Nick Patti, Yulee junior running back Derrick Henry, St. John’s Bartram Trail senior quarterback Nathan Peterman, Tampa Berkeley Prep senior running back Nelson Agholor, and Wewahitchka senior running back Theryl Brown.
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