Johnson Named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year
November 29, 2005 | Football
Nov. 29, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech junior receiver Robert Johnson (Americus, Ga.) was named the Big 12 Conference's Offensive Newcomer of the Year, while four Red Raiders donned first team honors. Team selections were made by a vote of the league's coaches and announced Tuesday by the Big 12 office.
A junior college transfer from Reedley College in California in 2004, Johnson made the transition from quarterback to receiver during 2005 spring camp after sitting as a redshirt last season and made a successful adjustment. He ranked second in the Big 12 in receptions per game (5.8) and receiving yards per game (81.7). He got his career off to a solid start with nine receptions for 129 and a touchdown in his debut against Florida International and followed with 208 yards against Sam Houston State, the eighth best single-game performance in school history. Johnson finished the regular season with a team-leading 64 receptions for 895 yards and four touchdowns.
Senior running back Taurean Henderson (Gatesville, Texas), junior receivers Joel Filani (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Jarrett Hicks (Houston, Texas) and senior free safety Dwayne Slay (Brunswick, Ga.) were all named to the first team.
Henderson led the Big 12 with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game and 12.0 points per game on 22 touchdowns. Additionally, he finished the regular season as one of the league's top five running backs and led all backs in receptions.
Filani and Hicks were two of Tech's four receivers to log over 60 receptions each during the season. Hicks totaled 62 receptions for 799 yards and a Big 12-leading nine touchdowns, while Filani led the conference with 981 yards on 61 catches. The duo accounted for over half of the team's receiving scores with 17 touchdowns.
En route to earning first-team status, Slay set a Big 12 mark with eight forced fumbles this season and established himself as one of the league's hardest hitting defensive backs. His two forced fumbles against Kansas State led to touchdowns, while his forced fumble early in the second half against Texas A&M sparked Tech's first of six-straight scoring drives. Slay ranks third in the conference with 9.2 tackles per game and leads the conference's defensive backs.
Senior quarterback Cody Hodges (Hereford, Texas) and linemen E.J. Whitley (Texas City, Texas) and Manuel Ramirez (Houston, Texas) join Johnson on the offensive second team, while defensive end Keyunta Dawson (Shreveport, La.) and strong safety Vincent Meeks (Dallas, Texas) picked up defensive honors.
Hodges finished the regular season as the fourth-straight Red Raider to lead the nation in passing (367.5). Additionally, he led the country in total offense (378.8) and ranked third in points responsible for per game (18.4).
Whitley and Ramirez led and offensive line that aided in the Red Raiders boasting one of the top five offenses this season. Tech averaged 511.0 yards per game during the 11 games and led the Big 12 in total offense. Additionally, the Red Raiders piled up 25 rushing scores, second in league play. The touchdowns on the ground mark the most for Tech since the 1996 season and are attributed to the play of the offensive line.
Meeks led the team with three interceptions and was a key cog in Tech achieving top 10 status in pass defense. The senior finished the regular season fifth on the team with 43 tackles and recovered two fumbles. He has 12 career interceptions and is tied fifth on the Tech career chart.
Dawson has emerged as one of the program's top rush ends. The junior is third with 58 tackles, including three and half for loss and two and half sacks. He also posted four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Red Raiders receiving honorable mention status include receiver Danny Amendola (The Woodlands, Texas), center Brandon Jones (Keizer, Ore.), punter Alex Reyes (Allen, Texas), linebacker John Saldi (Southlake, Texas), defensive tackle Ken Scott (Newton, Texas), linebacker Fletcher Session (Tyler, Texas), placekicker Alex Trlica (Friendswood, Texas) and kick returner Shannon Woods (McKinney, Texas).
To view the entire All-Big 12 list, visit www.big12sports.com.
