There's little confusion as to what type of weather disturbance University of Miami running back Storm Johnson would say he resembles.
A hurricane, no doubt.
Johnson, 6-0, 218 pounds and only 17 years old, resembled a Category 5 when he knocked a defender on his back Saturday during the first day in full pads at Greentree Field.
``He's really showing his stuff,'' said freshman center Shane McDermott, Johnson's suitemate. ``He laid someone out. He was running the ball and hit someone while he was running. Pretty much just jacked him up -- boom -- right in the chest.
``The coaches loved it.''
UM coach Randy Shannon said it is still too early to determine just how good his deep stable of running backs can be. But he is looking forward to finding out during upcoming scrimmages.
``Next week, Saturday, when we scrimmage a little, then ask,'' Shannon said. ``They may get bumped, but it's not tackling. [Defenders will] tag off somebody and butt him up and let 'em run so it's not full-speed tackling. But for the most part, are they running the right routes and doing the right things? Yes. The protection stuff? Yes. We haven't put a lot in on defense.''
That's fine with Johnson, one of six early enrollees getting a jump on learning the playbook, thereby giving himself a better opportunity to earn playing time. Ranked by ESPN.com as the nation's 22nd-best recruit and by Rivals.com as the No. 7 running back, Johnson rushed for a Loganville (Ga.) High record of 1,937 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2009. He caught 11 passes for 150 yards and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
And this Hurricane is fast. Johnson said he was timed at 4.38 seconds by UM in the 40-yard dash. ``Electrifying,'' Shannon said of Johnson last week. Johnson said his full name is Westleigh Storm Johnson, but everyone calls him by his middle name. ``I guess my mom wanted to name me something special so she picked something unusual.''
Did his name draw him to the Hurricanes? ``Yeah, in some unique way. It fit perfect. A lot of people blew it up.''
Johnson said he chose Miami over Kentucky, Penn State, Oregon and Michigan State because of UM's ``family atmosphere, the coaches and the education part.
``The classes are small and we work hard on the football field. Those are good things for success.''
He described himself as a ``big back -- but I can do little-back things.''
He said he knows 85 to 90 percent of the playbook, but is constantly challenged trying to thoroughly grasp it. ``We've only been through three days of installment and our playbook is huge,'' he said Friday, adding that the playbook and the speed of play are the biggest adjustments from high school. The older Canes are impressed.
``Very explosive kid,'' receiver Leonard Hankerson said.
``Awesome,'' receiver Aldarius Johnson said. ``He brings a lot of energy. He's real fast. Nice kid. When his name gets called he's so excited about his turn and his time to run and block. He makes us feel like we should be on the same page.''
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