FAYETTEVILLE — Dennis Johnson often reigns as the Arkansas Razorbacks’ top back, but seldom does so back to back.
Now at the back end of their schedule, the BCS eighth-ranked Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1 SEC) likely need Johnson excelling back to back to back with their SEC Championship/BCS bowl hopes hinging on remaining games against Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU.
Johnson’s 252 all-purpose yards in last Saturday’s 44-28 SEC victory over then No. 9 South Carolina embodies his Arkansas impact. He netted 130 yards on two kickoff returns, one a 98-yard touchdown, had 86 yards on 15 carries and caught 4 passes for 36 yards.
The 5-10 , 213-pound junior from Texarkana was named SEC special teams player of the week.
“Obviously the kickoff return for a TD was huge for Dennis and another nice return was a big, big part of the win,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
The key will be if Petrino has cause to express similar sentiments Saturday after Arkansas plays host to Tennessee.
Johnson’s history has been following the great with the not so good. So Petrino, running backs coach Tim Horton and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee are working overtime to divert Johnson’s course of consistent inconsistency.
“That’s something that we’ve been working hard with Dennis is the consistency, consistency in your approach throughout the week,” Petrino said Monday. “I think he’s worked extremely hardat that, and I think Coach Horton’s done a really nice job with him on just coming to work each day, have a good attitude, a smile on your face and go out and work hard.”
Johnson’s career kick returning has excelled consistently, but at running back he rides a roller coaster.
In his lone start as a true freshman replacing injured 1,000-yard rusher Michael Smith, Johnson closed the 2008 season by leading an upset over LSU with 154 yards on 18 carries.
His next game, the 2009 season-opener against Missouri State, Johnson popped a 91-yard kick return but at running back finished with minus-4 yards on three carries.
Midseason 2009 Johnson started against Florida with Smith injured. Johnson starred with 107 yards on 14 carries with a 15-yard catch.
Next game the Hogs lose at Ole Miss. Johnson carried four times for 15 yards.
Two games into 2010 he wasdone, undergoing major surgery to repair a torn bowel.
Coming off that setback, plus hamstring issues, Johnson started slowly in 2011 but by mid-October was back to Dennis the Dangerous. He rushed for a career-high 160 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown, on 15 carries to carry Arkansas by Ole Miss 29-24 in Oxford.
The next game at Vanderbilt, Johnson’s critical fumble benched him for the remainder of Arkansas’ 31-28 victory.
He was in the doghouse again, but this time, McGee said, as a different Dennis.
“Dennis has been focused ever since that fumble last week,” Mc-Gee said after Johnson’s success against South Carolina. “He really took that to heart. He had a really good week of practice. I can tell when he has that look in his eye that he’s really focused and concentrating.
“As you guys know, he’s one of our main weapons.”
Sports, Pages 16 on 11/09/2011