BVA grad Johnson leads Pitt into Pinstripe Bowl
Associated Press
Pitt fullback George Aston celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Clemson with Belle Vernon Area graduate Dorian Johnson (53) and Scott Orndoff, a Waynesburg native, during the first half on Nov. 12. Johnson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Orndoff was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers immediately after the draft.
Johnson
Heading into this season, 2013 Belle Vernon Area graduate and current Pitt Panther left guard Dorian Johnson received several honors.
With the regular season now complete, Johnson is garnering more accolades and more are sure to follow.
Johnson will finish up his Pitt football career at a baseball park, strangely enough, when the Panthers (8-4) take on Northwestern (6-6) out of the Big Ten at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28.
Johnson was the leader of an offensive line that was a key part of a prolific Panthers offense that ranked 10th in the country at 42.3 points per game with quarterback Nathan Peterman throwing for 2,602 yards and 26 touchdowns and running back James Conner rushing for 1,060 yards and 16 TDs.
Not surprisingly, Johnson was named All-ACC First Team earlier this week.
“I am honored to win it,” said Johnson, who earned Second Team a year ago. “It shows that hard work pays off.”
Not to be undone, he also came in at No. 45 on ESPN’s Top 50 college football players.
A mock draft released last week by www.Drafts.com had Johnson going in the third round as the 72nd pic to the Arizona Cardinals.
However, don’t look for him to last that long in the draft as Johnson’s stock will rise.
Despite the honor, Johnson isn’t looking at the NFL and is focused on closing his Pitt career on a positive note.
“I am not looking ahead or even thinking about that,” he said. “We have one more game to play.”
With all of the individual awards and recognition being bestowed upon Johnson for his hard work, he is still stressing the team first as he gears up for his last college game.
“It isn’t important to finish on a positive note,” he said. “Coach (Pat) Narduzzi told us some numbers about how (Pitt) hasn’t won eight games or more in back-to-back seasons many times in the last 30 years.
“Plus a win gets the younger players going into the off-season in the right direction for the future.”
The season has been a positive for Johnson and the Pitt program.
So after downing now fifth-ranked Penn State, winning at previously undefeated and then second-ranked Clemson, and scoring 76 points against Syracuse, what stands out the most for Johnson?
“The whole season really,” he said before reflecting on moving into the freshmen dorms his first year. “It has gone so fast.
“I told my mom the other day that it feels like yesterday that I was moving into the Towers and now I am down to one game.”
When selected in the upcoming NFL Draft, Johnson will be the first BVA Leopard taken since 1983 when Bill Contz of Penn State was drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
Johnson started three games as a freshman and every game each of the last three seasons for Pitt.