“I think we're going to have an opportunity for another year next year,” Harbaugh said on Monday evening. “We talked about it. There was two options. He just hasn’t been able to get to the top, reaching that high gear. He hasn’t quite got there. I think it’s better not to push something that’s not there. Train and come back next year.”
Johnson did not play his first year in 2012, then had his redshirt freshman campaign cut short by a torn ACL in the season opener. The former Ann Arbor Pioneer star came back the next season and took over as the top rushing option by the end of the season, but once again tore his ACL in the season finale at Ohio State during a two touchdown effort.