Tulsa’s Damaris Johnson Named to 2010 Associated Press All-America Team
New York, NY –– The nation’s leader for all-purpose yards last season and this year, Tulsa’s Damaris Johnson (Norco, La.), was named to the 2010 Associated Press All-America team, as announced by the organization today.
Johnson was named to the AP second team as an all-purpose performer. A kick returner, punt returner and receiver, Johnson leads the nation for the second straight year in all-purpose yards with a 191.8-yard per game average.
The 5’8” Johnson has five 200+ all-purpose yard games and has 39 plays for over 20+ yards this year.
The last Tulsa player to earn either first-, second- or third-team Associated Press All-America honors was tight end Garrett Mills in 2005 as a third team selection. The last time a Tulsa player was named to the AP second team was receiver Chris Penn in 1993.
Only a junior, Johnson enters Tulsa’s December 24th Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl game against Hawai’i with 7,470 career all-purpose yards to rank fourth on the NCAA’s all-time all-purpose yardage list. He needs 103 yards to tie DeAngelo Williams (Memphis, 2002-05) for third place, 118 yards to tie Clemson’s C.J. Spiller (2006-09) for second place and 294 yards to tie Brandon West (Western Michigan, 2006-09) for the NCAA’s all-time record.
This year, Johnson became the and C- record-holder for career kickoff return yards and currently has 3,308 career kickoff return yards. In 2010, many opponents have kicked away from Johnson, as he returned only 29 kicks on 67 possible kickoffs. He has produced 795 yards, one TD and a 27.4-yard average on those 29 returns. Johnson currently ranks 22nd in the for kickoff return yards and 20th for punt returns this season.
Johnson also has a team-leading 771 receiving yards and three TDs, while rushing for 462 yards, a 9.2 average and 6 TDs. Johnson earned first team all-Conference honors as a punt returner and second team recognition as a wide receiver and a kick returner this year. He was also selected as the Conference Special Teams Player of the Year on a vote of the league’s coaches.
Last season, Johnson averaged 224.4 all-purpose yards in 12 games to lead the nation.
Updated 12-14-2010
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