Johnson Named ACC Rookie of the Year by ACSMA
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami freshman Duke Johnson was named both the ACC Offensive and Overall Rookie of the Year, announced Tuesday by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).
Johnson is the first Hurricane to win the rookie award following a breakout season in which he broke Clinton Portis’ 13-year-old school rushing record for freshmen, ending the season with 947 yards.
“It means a lot being the first in Miami history to win this award it means so much to me and the team because I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” Johnson said. “And this is just another way to make my mom proud and show how I really appreciate the sacrifices she made for me when I was younger.”
On Monday, the freshman speedster was selected to the All-ACC second team as both a running back and specialist. The five-time ACC Rookie of the Week honoree posted one of the best all-around freshman seasons in program history, accumulating 2,070 all-purpose yards (second-most in program history) and 13 touchdowns in 2012.
The Miami, Fla., product also set a Miami single-season record with 892 kick return yards and two touchdowns on 27 tries. He leads the ACC with a 33.04 kick return average – the fourth-best in FBS. His 947 rushing yards are the fourth-most among FBS freshmen, and he is tied as the national leader with 11 all-purpose plays of 50+ yards.
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