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University of Miami freshman Duke Johnson was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for the fifth time this season, the league announced Monday.
With Johnson’s league-leading fifth ROW honor, the Hurricanes finish the 2012 season with 12 ACC Player of the Week accolades, eight of which were freshmen.
Johnson rushed for a career-high 176 yards and a career-best three touchdowns in Miami’s 52-45 season-finale win at Duke. Included in his three rushing touchdowns was a 65-yard score, his 11th play of over 50 yards in 2012. He finished with 277 all-purpose yards, his sixth game with 200-plus all-purpose yards this season.
In the third quarter against the Blue Devils, Johnson broke Miami’s single-season freshman rushing record held by Clinton Portis (838 in 1999). His 2,070 all-purpose yards are the most by a Miami freshman the second-most in program history behind only Willis McGahee (2,108 in 2002).
Johnson concluded his rookie campaign with four 100-yard rushing games, 957 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 139 carries. He also finished 2012 with a single-season school-record 892 kick return yards and two touchdowns. Johnson’s 13 touchdowns on the season are tied for the fifth-most in program history.
