Auburn Football: Kerryon Johnson battled injuries to be 2017 offensive MVP
By Dana Becker
Kerryon Johnson’s health was a major reason Auburn football likely missed out on competing for the national title this year.
Johnson missed two games earlier in the season, including a 14-6 loss to Clemson in September. He also was injured late in the Iron Bowl win over Alabama, limiting him to just 13 carries for 44 yards in a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
Around all of that, though, the junior running back showed why he is so explosive, running for 1,320 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns to earn offensive MVP honors for the Tigers.
Johnson also added 188 yards on 23 receptions, scoring two touchdowns in the passing game.
His 263 rushing attempts led the SEC, as did his 1,320 yards. Johnson’s 17 touchdowns were just one behind conference leader Benjamin Snell Jr. of Kentucky.
After opening the year with 136 yards on just 16 carries in a win over Georgia Southern, Johnson missed games with Clemson and Mercer. He returned late in September, running for five touchdowns on 18 carries in a win over Missouri.
Johnson followed that up with three consecutive games of at least 116 yards, including 204 on 28 carries with three scores vs. Ole Miss. He scored 12 touchdowns during a four-week span of games.
After being held to 63 yards vs. Arkansas, Johnson reeled off four consecutive 100-yard games. He had 145 vs. Texas A&M, 167 in a win over then-No. 1 Georgia and 137 more vs. Louisiana Monroe.
In the Iron Bowl, Johnson carried the ball 30 times for 104 yards and a touchdown against the stout Alabama defensive front-seven.
Johnson showed his toughness in November, carrying the ball 113 times for 553 yards. He had 527 yards rushing in the first quarter of games this year and 258 more in the third.
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Auburn and Johnson will get the chance to earn victory No. 11 on the season when they face Central Florida in the Peach Bowl on January 1.