Slimmer Johnson Ready for RB Start

The Longhorns say they are ready to unveil a revamped running attack this year with the help of a slimmer Cody Johnson.

Longhorn coaches lost hope that they would be able to use the running back for anything but short yardage situations.

’We kind of gave up and said it looks like you'll be a short yardage and goal line back and that’s fine,’ Coach Mack Brown recalled telling Johnson.

However, over the offseason, Johnson was able to lower his body fat with a new diet.

’Smaller portions a day and more of them, things like that helped me lose weight and have smaller body fat,’ Johnson said.

’He lost a lot of body fat,’ Brown added.

At his new weight, Johnson vaulted from third to first on the depth chart in practices this August.

His transformation also came with the help of his position coach Major Applewhite. Appelwhite sent him hundreds of text messages in the offseason reminding him to keep focused.

’They [would] text message, `You need to drop weight cause we still have faith in you,’’ Johnson said.

Johnson rushed for 335 yards and 12 touchdowns last year but is expected to have a much larger role now that he is the primary back.