Coyote Sports Hall of Fame
Carl Johnson was South Dakota's "Mr. Everything" on the gridiron during the mid-1950's/ Johnson came to USD with a scholarship in basketball but, ironically, became better known for his football prowess. Coyote Football Coach Harry Gamage discovered that he had a better than average football player in Johnson, who made an impact in his first starting assignment as USD rolled to a 38-0 win over South Dakota Tech. Johnson scored two touchdowns and had a pair of 64-yard runs while also returning a punt 49 yards and recording a pair of interceptions. While Johnson caught just three passes during the 1954 season, he scored on every reception and averaged 43 yards per catch. From 1954-56, Johnson led the Coyotes in rushing, receiving kickoff returns and total offense three straight years (1954-56), twice leading the team in scoring (1954-55) and punt returns (1954, 1956). He still remains in the USD record book with 30 points in a single game, scoring five touchdowns in the win over North Dakota State in 1954. Johnson, who is now the associate Dean of Students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minn., enjoyed his greatest year as a Coyote in 1954 when he gained 924 yards and led the league in rushing with 508 yards. That same season, Johnson, who finished with 2,137 yards career rushing, scored 16 touchdowns to set a USD school mark. Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in 1957 and later played with the Kichner of the Canadian Football League.
