By John Shinn
Set a school record for receiving yards in a game and some accolades are bound to follow. So they have for Oklahoma receiver Manny Johnson.
Monday he was named the Big 12 Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Sooners’ 35-10 win over then-nationally-ranked TCU last Saturday.
The senior from Gilmer, Texas, set a school record with 206 receiving yards eclipsing the previous mark of 190 set by Mark Clayton in the 2003 Texas game.
“No one would plan on a night like this one. You just have to go out and play and have a great practice,” Johnson said. “We knew they’d be man so we knew the opportunity would be there, but I don’t think any one person thought they could do stuff like that.”
Johnson compiled his yardage on just five receptions, three of which went for long touchdowns. He scored on plays of 76, 55 and 63 yards to become only the second player in school history to log three touchdown plays of 55 or more yards in one game. The other player to do that was Antonio Perkins with three punt returns against UCLA in 2003.
“The guy has been a very consistent, excellent player for us for four years,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s just having more opportunities to make more plays. I don’t think there’s any question he’s stronger and more powerful and running through some things this year that are giving him more opportunities to make plays.”
Johnson was the first OU player to bring home a conference player of the week honor this season. It’s kind of surprising quarterback Sam Bradford hasn’t received the accolade yet.
He threw for four touchdown passes against TCU with three going to Johnson. It was his fourth straight game with at least three touchdown passes. He also threw for 406 yards, third-most in school history and a personal high.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
