In record time

Cory Johnson once jokingly listed his nickname as Weeman on a Concordia football questionnaire, taking a self-deprecating jab at his 5-foot-8 frame.

His game, however, is huge.

Johnson is 152 rushing yards shy of the school's career record of 2,393 set by Mike Jousma from 1991-93.

Oh, and he's only a junior.

"He's just fast," Concordia all-conference senior offensive tackle Grant Weller said. "He's so shifty. You don't have to get much of a block for him. He'll just find a seam and he's gone."

A former Moorhead High School football, hockey and track standout, Johnson has been a big-play threat since he stepped onto the field as a junior.

Initially slated to get his feet wet on special teams in his first year, Cobbers coach Terry Horan couldn't keep Johnson off the field after the freshman took the second carry of his career 67 yards for a touchdown in a 29-12 win against rival Minnesota State Moorhead.

He finished his first game with 91 yards on eight carries.

"As far as my expectations when I came in, I didn't have many," said Johnson, who leads the league with 697 yards. "I didn't know what to expect playing college football. I just felt like if I deserved to be out on the field, they would find a spot for me."

Known around the MIAC as one of the fastest and most elusive backs in the league, Johnson has made a major impact despite often being the third option in the Cobbers' triple-option offense.

He's used as the Cobbers' change-of-pace, the burst of speed on the outside that follows Concordia's rugged inside running of the fullback and quarterback.

Johnson has never finished with more than 116 carries. He's on pace this year for a career-low 108 attempts.

Johnson, however, has made the most of every touch.

He has a career rushing average of 7.2 yards per carry.

By the time his career is over, Johnson will have crushed the school's career rushing mark and likely not crack the top four in career attempts.

"He's tough to see," Horan said. "It's tough for the second level to pick up, and when he runs downhill he's tough to stop. ... Just give him the ball and he'll make a play for you."

Remarkably, Johnson has spent much of his football career in pain due to the lingering effects of a severe hamstring injury he suffered in high school.

Johnson often hobbles off the field and heads directly into the trainer's room for treatment.

It's something he's learned to live with.

"It's frustrating at times," he said. "I just have to be mentally tough about it. One day it's fine and the next day it will pull or tweak. I just have to not let it get to me too much."

Johnson is quick to deflect the attention for his accomplishments, preferring instead to give the credit for his success to the offensive linemen who open the holes.

Concordia had three first-team all-conference linemen during the first two seasons of Johnson's career.

"I hope all the other guys take pride in (the record), too," said Johnson, whose team hosts Carleton at 1 p.m. Saturday in the home finale at Jake Christiansen Stadium. "It really shows a lot about our football team and what we can do."

- Teams: Carleton at Concordia - When: 1 p.m. Saturday - Radio: KVOX (740 AM)

Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562.

Hotzler's small college blog can be found at www.areavoices.com

In record time Heath Hotzler 20071026