Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Johnson Named 2010 FCS Elite Punt Returner
1/13/2011 9:38:54 AM | Football
Junior to be honored during men's basketball game on Jan. 20
CLICK HERE for Dontrell Johnson and Chris Hatcher interview with CFPA
Murray State punt returner Dontrell Johnson added another national award Thursday as the junior was named the recipient of the 2010 College Football Performance Awards FCS Elite Punt Returner Award. The 2010 season marked the first season that the CFPA has honored players from the FCS.
The award marks the third time Johnson has been honored on a national level, as last month he was named a Second-Team All-America punt returner by The Sports Network and Phil Steele Magazine.
The purpose of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
As prominent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines note, CFPA eliminates the politics and biases that vitiate balloting-based awards. Furthermore, CFPA is the only awards organization to receive praise from both Republican and Democratic White House officials for promoting objectivity and fairness in college football.
Johnson (Moultrie, Ga.) was electrifying in the return game, as he set a school record by returning two punts for touchdowns, while leading the FCS with a 22.80 yard average per return.
After having never returned a punt until the third game of the season, Johnson proved to be the spark plug that turned around the Racers season, as he took a punt 91 yards for a touchdown to help propel the Racers to a 52-16 victory over UT Martin. Just one week later, Johnson took a fourth-quarter punt 70 yards for a touchdown as MSU nearly pulled out an improbable comeback on the road against then-No. 4 Jacksonville State.
Johnson was first honored by the CFPA following the UTM game, as the National Punt Returner of the Week. He was also selected as the special teams player of the week by TSN, as well as OVC Specialist of the Week.
Johnson received his black crystal plaque at the men's basketball game against Eastern Illinois on Jan. 20.
Murray State punt returner Dontrell Johnson added another national award Thursday as the junior was named the recipient of the 2010 College Football Performance Awards FCS Elite Punt Returner Award. The 2010 season marked the first season that the CFPA has honored players from the FCS.
The award marks the third time Johnson has been honored on a national level, as last month he was named a Second-Team All-America punt returner by The Sports Network and Phil Steele Magazine.
The purpose of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
As prominent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines note, CFPA eliminates the politics and biases that vitiate balloting-based awards. Furthermore, CFPA is the only awards organization to receive praise from both Republican and Democratic White House officials for promoting objectivity and fairness in college football.
Johnson (Moultrie, Ga.) was electrifying in the return game, as he set a school record by returning two punts for touchdowns, while leading the FCS with a 22.80 yard average per return.
After having never returned a punt until the third game of the season, Johnson proved to be the spark plug that turned around the Racers season, as he took a punt 91 yards for a touchdown to help propel the Racers to a 52-16 victory over UT Martin. Just one week later, Johnson took a fourth-quarter punt 70 yards for a touchdown as MSU nearly pulled out an improbable comeback on the road against then-No. 4 Jacksonville State.
Johnson was first honored by the CFPA following the UTM game, as the National Punt Returner of the Week. He was also selected as the special teams player of the week by TSN, as well as OVC Specialist of the Week.
Johnson received his black crystal plaque at the men's basketball game against Eastern Illinois on Jan. 20.
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