Missouri State

A fifth-year senior leader who sits atop the Bears[apos] summer depth chart at running back, Johnston will lead one of the top running back groups in Division I FCS football this fall ... Played conservatively this spring, collecting 29 yards on just 9 carries in four scrimmages.

2010: Started 10-of-11 games and was second on the club in rushing yards (752) and third in all-purpose yards (932) ... Finished ninth in the MVFC and 62nd nationally in rushing yards per game (68.36) ... Was also 15th in the conference in all-purpose yards (84.73) and 17th in total offense (68.36) ... Was also fourth on the club in pass receptions (17), receiving yards (180), and scoring (30) ... Produced three straight 100-yard rushing games from 10/9/10 to 10/30/10 ... Had career-high 164 yards on 13 carries (12.6) with a touchdown and a 61-yard run from scrimmage at Murray State (10/9/10) ... Notched 130 yards on 18 carries in win over No. 18 Western Illinois (10/23/10) ... Had a touchdown and 112 yards on a career-high 22 carries in game at Indiana State (10/16/10) ... Also had 101 all-purpose yards in game at No. 16 UNI (11/13/10) with career-high 64 receiving yards ... Had 4 catches for 40 yards at Illinois State (9/25/10) to give him 128 all-purpose yards on the day ... Posted 3 tackles at Kansas State (9/11/10) ... Earned MSU Media Player of the Week and MSU Offensive Player of the Week honors in three different months of the season ... Notched 100 or more all-purpose yards in 5 games.

2009: Earned a medical redshirt after suffering a season-ending knee injury the first week of fall camp.

2008: Saw action in 8 games in an injury-plagued sophomore campaign ... Started his first college game at home versus North Dakota State (11/15/08) and secured a career high with 15 carries ... Had career-best 87 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in win over Youngstown State (10/11/08) to earn MSU Offensive Player of the Week honors ... Recorded a 70-yard rush against Western Illinois (10/4/08) and finished with 73 yards on just 2 carries ... Carried 9 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in win at Illinois State (10/18/08) with a career-high 2 receptions for 15 yards ... Carried 14 times for 51 yards in season opener against Washburn (9/4/08).

2007: Saw action in all 11 games as a true freshman ... Tallied season-high 77 yards on 9 carries with his only touchdown of the season in home win over Missouri S&T (8/30/07) ... Carried 11 times for 55 yards in home win over Indiana State (10/27/07) ... Also tallied 41 ground yards in win over Southeast Missouri (11/10/07) ... Factored in 5 tackles on special teams, including 3 solo stops and 2 tackles against Indiana State.

High School: Was a three-time letterman and two-year starter for his coach and former Missouri State quarterback Kyle Geller at Mansfield Summit High just outside of Arlington, Texas ... Helped team to a 7-4 record and a playoff appearance, as well as a 6-1 conference finish in 2006 ... Carried 106 times for 766 yards (7.3 per carry) his senior year while collecting 200 receiving yards ... Earned Texas 5A all-state and first-team all-district honors as team captain ... Shared Most Valuable Running Back honors as a senior with former Missouri State teammate Brandon Oliver ... Was also a standout hurdler and sprinter for the Jaguars.

Personal: Stephen Allen Johnston was born 7/20/89 in Frankfurt, Germany ... Son of Regina Johnston of Mansfield, Texas ... Majoring in Broadcast Journalism.