Ian Johnson (American football)

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Ian Johnson
College	Boise State
Sport	Football
Position	RB
Jersey #	41
Class	RS Sophomore
Career	2005 – present
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg)
Nationality	United States
Born	San Dimas, California
High School	Damien High School, La Verne, California
Awards
SI.com 1st Team All-American CBS Sportsline.com 1st Team All-American Sporting News 2nd Team All-American Associated Press 3rd Team All-American First Team All-WAC

Ian Johnson is a sophomore running back for the Boise State Broncos.

He gained national recognition when he accumulated 240 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a game against Oregon State which was broadcast on ESPN. This game would prove very significant to the Broncos' hopes of "busting" the BCS; their 42-14 victory over Oregon State increased their credibility after the Beavers stunned then-#3 USC on October 28, 2006.

1 High school career
2 College career
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

[edit] High school career

Johnson attended Damien High School in La Verne, California.

[edit] College career

The Broncos finished the regular season unbeaten (12-0) and became only the second team from outside the BCS conferences to play in a BCS bowl game. They played in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners, the year's Big 12 champion. In the Fiesta Bowl, he scored the game winning two-point conversion in overtime on a Statue of Liberty play to the left side. Boise State defeated Oklahoma 43-42, completing a perfect 13-0 season. Minutes later, during an interview with Chris Myers, Johnson proposed to his girlfriend Chrissy Popadics, Boise State's head cheerleader, on Fox Sports' postgame coverage. She accepted.

Johnson had been considered a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate.^[1] However, shortly after the announcement of his consideration for the Heisman Trophy, a collapsed lung sidelined Johnson for one game and hurt his chances of winning the Heisman. After the end of the 2006 regular season, he led NCAA Division I-A in scoring with 24 touchdowns.^[2] On December 7, 2006, Sports Illustrated named Johnson to their 2006 All-American first team. This makes Johnson the first Boise State athlete to be named to a major All-American team. ^[3] He was also named to the All-WAC team, won the Division I-A Offensive Player of the Week award and two WAC Offensive Player of the Week awards, and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.

Ian Johnson's main source of income had been from the sales of crocheted beanies he sold to teammates, fans, and fellow students.^[1] According to a November 11, 2006 interview broadcast on ESPN, the cost of each beanies was $15. However, in late 2006, the NCAA later ruled that Johnson could not profit from his growing celebrity status, nor could he donate the proceeds to charity. He had to cease all sales.

[edit] Trivia

In an edition of Sports Illustrated there is an article on a phone conversation between him and his favorite "footballer" Didier Drogba of Chelsea FC. Johnson tells Drogba that he wears his Ivory Coast National Teamjersey and Drogba invites him to a Champions League game. They also say that they will meet up when Chelsea FC play the LA Galaxy in Johnsons hometown, Los Angeles.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Boise State's Johnson a Heisman dark horse", Athlon, October 10, 2006.
^ Ian Johnson bio. Boise State University Sports Information. Retrieved on November 4, 2006.
^ "SI.com's All Americans", SI.com, December 7, 2006.