When he signed with Auburn out of Butler County Community College (Kan.), he created a big stir among recruiting analysts. His arrival on campus, and into a prominent position in the mix for playing time at running back, has become the talk around Auburn. Simply put, the man knows how to make an appearance and make it on a large scale too.

It comes as no surprise that the man looked upon to help an Auburn ground attack that has been dormant for the past four seasons made his decision to attend Auburn based on one of Auburn's biggest moments, last year's Auburn-Alabama game.

"I went through the Tiger Walk, and that was unbelievable," Johnson said. "I saw how dedicated the fans were. Last year, they (Auburn) didn't have such a good year, but the fans were there to support them."

Many of those same fans will be looking to Johnson to revive the running game next season. Looking at his junior college numbers, there is reason to believe Johnson will deliver in a big way.

During the Junior College National Championship game this season, Johnson carried the ball 40 times for 375 yards and seven touchdowns. Meanwhile, Auburn scored only eight rushing touchdowns all season, and his 375-yard game surpassed Auburn's leading ground gainer for the entire 1999 season.

Even without the real presence of a running game last season, Auburn seemed to begin to click offensively late in the year. With Johnson in the backfield next season, the offense might not just click, it could run rampant.

"I knew they had the players to take it to the next level," Johnson said. "They were just missing a few things from last year's team, and I think a big part of that was the running game."

While Auburn will be trying to take its offense and team to the next level, Johnson has already moved on to the next level in his career.

Johnson's junior college rushing statistics are gaudy and big.

Playing tailback, Johnson rushed for 2,224 yards on 306 carries and scored 31 touchdowns as a sophomore. He led Butler to the national championship two straight years against good competition.

Johnson says his experience on the junior college level should translate onto the gridiron at Auburn.

"We won back-to-back national championships, not too many teams or too many players can do something like that," Johnson said. "I think that experience is a big part of what I bring (to Auburn)."

Johnson says the time during his junior college days was spent preparing for the opportunity to play Division I football.

"I was trying to bring big-time experience with me to the next level," Johnson said.

The Tigers certainly hope Johnson's junior college experience will translate to Division I ball.

Johnson says the difference between junior college and Division I football is not as great as some may think.

"To me, it's not that different," Johnson said. "But the team I played with was stacked. You have to be to win back-to-back national championships."

"I played against those guys everyday, and playing against them made me better. So for me, it's really not all that different, Johnson said. I just try to go out and do my part, and not worry about the opposite side of the ball."

For his part at Auburn, Johnson has brought a certain intensity to the Tigers. Coaches have praised his work ethic in offseason workouts.

Johnson admits he will have to learn the new system he is being rushed through during spring.

Much of Auburn's rushing success will rely on Johnson, and his ability to pick up the offense and bolster the running game, but who better to bring help to Auburn's woeful running game than a man who does everything in a big way?