Miami Hurricanes freshman RB Christopher Johnson has put on 11 pounds, wants to be record-breaker

The Miami Hurricanes have quite the speed option at running back this year, with freshman and Florida state champion in the 100 and 200 Christopher Johnson on board. But Johnson is in a crowded running backs room that has back returning starter Henry Parrish, another touted freshman Henry Parrish plus transfer Ajay Allen from Nebraska and Don Chaney also healthy and competing in fall drills with the twos behind Parrish.

For Johnson, who arrived in the summer, it’s all about acclimating this fall and then making the most of whatever playing time he may earn.

“Everything is going well right now,” Johnson told CaneSport. “I’m just speeding up the process, have to stay on track and just maintain everything, be on top of things.”

Johnson says he views himself and WR Tyler Harrell (timed at 4.24 seconds in the 40 at a Louisville Pro Day) as the fastest players on offense, but the two haven’t raced yet for the title of Fastest Cane.

“Tyler, that’s my competition – he’s fast like I’m fast,” Johnson says.

A big focus for Johnson right now is bulking up a bit. He arrived at Miami in May at 169 pounds and is now pushing 180.

“I gained weight, want to gain more,” he says. “For me it was just about eating different, you have to eat every day, can’t miss a meal or you’re not going to gain weight. It’s a process now. Before I came to Miami I wasn’t eating that much. Now it’s a cycle, eating all the meals.”

He says his goal is to push past 190 pounds.

Oh, and if you want a comparison for Johnson, his former coach at Ft. Lauderdale Dillard High, Tyler Tate, has one for you.

“To me he’s an Alvin Kamara back, definitely, will probably be around the same size,” Tate said. “Once he gets to college, in a weight program, he’ll be about 6-0, 195 or 200 pounds. “He can do everything, is a slasher, very fast, quick and explosive. He can play slot receiver, also outside receiver, catch the ball out of the backfield. He has high versatility, different ways you can use him.

“He can do everything on the football field.”

The bar is set high.

And the work is beginning in earnest for Johnson this fall.

“For me it’s just learn the playbook, make sure I’m on top of everything, know everything,” Johnson said. “You can’t play if you don’t know the plays. They can’t put you out on the field if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

He says the message he gets from coaches is simple.

“Just be ready to play,” he says. Asked his goal for the season, Johnson says “I want to have a big role, want to break a couple of records, freshman running backs records.”

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