The big question this week for the Washington Huskies, as they prepare to take on Michigan in the national championship game Monday in Houston, is the status of running back Dillon Johnson.
Johnson, who has rushed for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, aggravated a nagging foot injury on the Huskies' final possession of their 37-31 CFP semifinals win over Texas this past Monday.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed Johnson's status Wednesday in a media teleconference.
"I haven't seen him today. I know that we got back yesterday, and they continued to look at him and had a report with our training staff today. This is just something he's been working through for a couple months now and just played through it. There's nothing as far as above and beyond what's happened in the past," DeBoer said. "Just kind of throughout the game, he'd reaggravate it and shake it off and go back out there and play. I guess my thought is he'll be ready to go.
"Obviously, it's a quick week, quick turnaround, only seven days to get ready again. We'll be smart with how we prepare, and I guess that's my assumption not having talked to him today, but even knowing where we landed, as long as everything came out all right with everything, he was going to do everything he could to be on that football field next Monday."
Johnson, who played the last three seasons for Mississippi State, has been a revelation with the Huskies, especially over the second half of the season. He's more than doubled his previous career-best of 448 yards in a season while adding another dimension to an offense that ranks No. 1 nationally in passing yards.
While quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies' talented receiver corps get the spotlight -- deservedly so -- the Washington offense has been at its best when Johnson is delivering on the ground as well.
After a solid-if-not-spectacular first six games this season -- including one 100-yard rushing game -- Johnson became a bigger presence in the offense down the stretch, reeling off games of 256 rushing yards and 4 TDs vs. USC, 104 yards and a TD vs. Utah and 152 yards and 2 TDs vs. Oregon while averaging 127.8 rushing yards per game over a six-game stretch entering the Sugar Bowl/CFP semis Monday.
Johnson was limited to just 49 rushing yards and 2 TDs on 21 carries (plus 18 receiving yards) vs. Texas, while Penix led the way with a masterful passing performance.
But there's no mistaking the role Johnson has played in getting the Huskies to this point.
"I think he's just really established himself the second half of the season, both at running the football, which I know was everyone's theme, just the big games he's had and the physicality he brings. He is very much in sync with our offensive line. Trusts them a lot, they trust him and go the extra mile to pave the way for him to get the yards he has," DeBoer said. "I think the other piece is we have other guys that do a really good job, too, but he is just a solid player all around and does a solid job of pass protection and keeping the pocket clean for Mike. Smart football player, understands his responsibilities, but physically able to take on all the different types of bodies that come at him pressure-wise or just helping in protection.
"Him being a first-year guy with us, he's really the second half of the year come along as the reps have added up, and he gets more opportunities. He's a big piece to it. I don't think I'd be able to sell it any other way. I think everyone would see through that. We have other guys that are ready to go if he's not able to step out there, but Dillon is I know going to do everything he can because he's putting his heart and soul into this season, this team all year long."
Johnson has been a true workhorse running back in a way that is rare these days in college football. The Huskies' next leading rushers are sophomore Will Nixon (194 yards and a TD) and freshman Tybo Rogers (182 rushing yards).
