Reader comments
Utah Utes football: Utah's man — Injury-free Johnson rarin' to go for Utes

Whatever Brian Johnson may or may not accomplish this season, the bottom-line is that the guy is an intelligent-class-act.

Be that as it may I expect he will do great things this year and I forsee another 2004esque year by the Utes overall!

Go Brian and Go Utes!!!

BJ will do wonders this year.......GO UTES

I think Johnson is the wild card for Utah this year. They could have a big season if he stays healthy and is able to fully utilize his scrambling and passing skills.

Neither BYU or Utah can affort to lose their starting QBs. Should be an interesting season.

Class act. I hope that everything mends for him and he goes 11-1.

WASN'T BRIAN'S SHOULDER SEPERATION THAT KEEPED HIM OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS THE SAME DEGREE THAT MAX HALL HAD WHEN HE PLAYED THROUGH IT DURING THE UTAH GAME. HEY IM JUST SAYIN!!!

Johnson is a very good QB, and I hope to see how well the Utes can do this year with fewer injuries--maybe even two undefeated teams meeting the last game of the regular season to determine the MWC championship.

I just wish Facer wouldn't dance around Brian's actual record, virtually ignoring losses when he'd get injured, or played a partial game, like NM in 2005 and OSU and UNLV last year. It's inspiring enough how he's come back from two serious injuries, without sugar coating the effect it's had on his overall record.

I pray that BJ will have an injury free year. I hope they will be undeafted going into the BYU game. as i hope byu will be. what a game to play. go Utes and go Cougars.

No. The shoulder injuries were NOT the same degree. Johnson's separation was a grade 3. Hall's was a grade 1. This has actually been reported on several times...including the DNews. If you keep reading Ute articles, as you appear to be doing now, you'll start to become more informed.

Hey, I'm just sayin.

NO IT WAS NOT!! BRIAN JOHNSON'S REQUIRED OFF-SEASON SURGERY. MAX HALL'S DID NOT. BRIAN'S WAS MUCH WORSE THAN MAX'S!!!!

HEY, I'M JUST SAYIN!!!

As a huge Ute fan, I wish BJ the best of luck. He has become quite fragile. He reminds me of Arceneaux in that every time he takes a big hit, we wonder if he'll be back. This is his year to put it all together.

Johnson is a stud. I wish him well in every game this year except 1. As long as he goes injury free he'll do some damage for the Utes. Like many others, I'd love to see the holy war this year be against 2 undefeated teams.

Just wanted to get that in before all the yoyo haters from both sides wake up and start posting their blather and stupidity here.

Go Cougars and Utes...

umm im prity sure BJs injury was worse that max halls. any fool knows that! im just sayin !!

He wont last 4 games. Some people just aren't made to play football. Wonder how his jump shot is?

Great article.Brian Johnson is a class act and if he can stay healthy THE University of Utah could have another extraordinary year.

I thought this article was a repeat article from last year. Let's hope he can stay injury free.

Keep in mind that the media did the same thing with John Beck's record, to illustrate that he actually was a good QB even though the team's record wasn't very good during his first three years.

As for BJ, you have to put an asterisk next to those three games. '05 UNM the Utes were driving for the winning score when BJ was injured and Ratliff came in and threw an interception. The OSU game was tied when he was injured and Grady came in and was awful. The UNLV game was an impossible situation, Grady had dug a hole and BJ wasn't even ready to come back from injury yet, let alone have to lead a come from behind effort on the road.

Johnson is a great QB.

He's no alex smith, i have been to a few parties when he has been there, maybe he is a good guy in front of the cameras, but off the limelight hes not.

Hey, I'm just sayin' was it your BYU education that "keeped" you so informed on this issue or was it the blue and white glasses that maked you fell in love with Max Hall?

Just sayin yo!

Utah finished 8-1 last season despite the fact that Johnson couldn't throw a pass more than 15 yards and was practically immobile in the pocket. That's a credit to Utah's offensive line and running backs, particularly Darrell Mack.

Utah had four key offensive players seriously injured by the second game of 2007, (only one, Johnson, returned to play) and the team still went 9-4 and won a bowl game. That's a credit to Johnson's toughness and to the coaching staff for improvising and making the best of a bad situation.

Now's the time to stay healthy, stay together and live up to expectations. The pieces are in place for a great run.

GO UTES!!!

Brian is a good kid. Go Utes!!!
Also, he not only separated his shoulder but he fractured his collarbone.