RB Ron Johnson is a Student of the Game
Running back Ron Johnson is in his first season at UConn, a true freshman from Naples, FL, but after talking with him for the first time following the Huskies 37-29 win over UCF, you would think he’s an upperclassmen.
Johnson handled the win with class and dignity, possessing a quiet confidence that this is where he belongs.
In the short time he has been a Husky, him and fellow freshman Arkeel Newsome have emerged as the two-headed rushing attack at the top of the depth chart. The two have developed a relationship, since first meeting, just three months ago.
“Arkeel and myself are real close, we’ve grown that way since Fall camp,” Johnson said following the win. “He pushes me and I push him. We know, being at running back, it’s very competitive because you never know who’s going to start the next week. We just make sure we go to practice and we work hard.”
The two have been kept under wraps by the coaching staff in terms of media availability, but both emerged from the locker room following the 37-29 win over UCF, on Saturday. Johnson stressed the running back group as a whole, rather than focusing on just him and Newsome.
“Max and Josh, all four of us, we push each other, we coach each other up when we need to be coached, we pick each other up when we’re down and I feel like it’s working out in our favor,” he said. “That’s just the type of group we have, we’re a family.”
Johnson has seen the most carries from the position each of the last two weeks and his physical running style, leaves an impression on opposing defenses.
“My style of play is, don’t go down, make sure you break the first tackle,” he said. “You break the first tackle you’re going to get about 5-6 yards a pop. That’s my entire mentality.”
And Newsome?
“With Arkeel, it’s just have fun,” Johnson noted. “Good luck trying to tackle him because he’s small and one cut, you could have a sprained ankle, but me, I’m going to try to run you over.”
The 6-1, 217-lb back gave the Huskies the lead for good on Saturday, when his 1-yard run put UConn up 24-21 in the third quarter. He took the ball from Deshon Foxx on the zone read and basically carried the WR/QB with him into the end zone.
“Foxx told me in the huddle, I’m going to give it, but if a guy comes and tackles you, I’m going to pull it and jump over the top,” Johnson recalled. “On the play, he handed me the ball and both were open and he just pushed me in.”
He went on to add his second touchdown of the game from two yards out, to put the Huskies ahead, 37-21.
Hearing Johnson talk after the game, highlighting the intricacies of the zone read and the responsibilities of all players on the field during that play, it is easy to see he studies the game more than most.
“I’ve been playing since I was five years old,” he said. “I love this game.”
Husky Nation will continue to enjoy watching him play for another three seasons and with him and Arkeel in the backfield, there will be a lot of love to go around.
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