Brian Johnson is back.
After a lengthy recovery from a knee injury, No. 3 will once again be Utah's starting quarterback.
"I'm excited. It's been a long journey," Johnson said. "I've still got a long ways to go, but I'm happy with the progress that's been made."
Johnson, who led the Mountain West Conference and ranked fourth nationally in total offense as a sophomore, hasn't played in a game since getting hurt late in a loss to New Mexico at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Nov. 12, 2005.
When Johnson takes the field for the Utes' season-opener at Oregon State on Thursday, it'll be 656 days since he's taken a snap.
"I'm excited to get out there. I can't wait until it happens," Johnson said. "Once the first snap happens, everything else is out. It's all history from there."
The road to recovery, though, featured valleys and peaks that Johnson may never forget.
Last year's season-opener at the Rose Bowl was especially tough on Johnson. The excitement surrounding the game and the atmosphere created a buzz that drew a lot of Ute fans, including Johnson's family and friends.
"That was probably the low point," he said. "I'm glad its over with right now. I'm just looking forward to Aug. 30."
The latter will likely be the ultimate high point in Johnson's journey. For now, however, he lists taking his knee brace off in spring ball as the highlight.
"I started out a little rusty in spring ball for the first four or five practices," Johnson said. "But as we continued to keep playing
through spring ball, I started to get my confidence and my timing back. I started to get a better feel for things and things started to work out."
So much so, that Johnson was quickly tabbed as the starter again and was elected a team captain.
"I'm excited to get up, run around and do my thing in the first game," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait."
When Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was asked what was more significant — his third season at the helm or Johnson's return — the response was swift and decisive.
"Brian Johnson coming back. Coaching is overrated. It's all players. It's all about the players," said Whittingham, who joked he just doesn't want to mess things up. "I think Brian Johnson coming back is huge for this team."
Topping the list of reasons, he said, is Johnson's leadership role. The quarterback is the only underclassman chosen to be a captain. He joined senior safety Steve Tate as Utah's representatives at the MWC's preseason media gathering over the summer.
In addition, Johnson's No. 3 adorns the Ute jerseys being sold in stores. The 20-year-old Texan has become the face of Utah football.
Expectations are high.
Besides being named to the MWC's preseason all-conference team, Johnson received league offensive player of the year recognition from CollegeFootballNews.com and Blue Ribbon Yearbook.
First-team honors have come from several publications, including The Sporting News, Athlon, Lindy's and Phil Steele.
Johnson, however, shuns the individual spotlight.
"You can't put the focus on just one or two guys. It's a team sport. I can't do everything by myself," Johnson said. "I have teammates. I have great teammates. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys around me. They make my job a lot easier.
"So it's not a situation where one guy will make the difference," he added. "But collectively as a unit, we all make a difference."
Johnson is setting the tone. He's determined to leave it all on the field and not take any days off.
"It's just the will," he said. "You've got to will yourself every day to come out and compete at your highest level."
Johnson returns to the field as Utah's career leader in yards per completion (13.54). He ranks second all-time in pass efficiency (149.73) and completion rate (.638). Other notable numbers include four 300-yard passing games and 28 total touchdowns.
"Brian adds a dynamic to our offense that only a quarterback with his athleticism can bring," Whittingham said in this year's team media guide. "The threat of the option is back in our offense again. With his ability to both run and throw the ball equally well, Brian is a defensive coordinator's nightmare."
In 10 games as a sophomore, Johnson passed for 2,892 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also ran for 478 yards and eight scores.
Johnson has made the most of his recovery time. He enters the 2007 season bigger, stronger and faster. In addition, Johnson has been able to see things as a coach while on the sidelines.
"I think you'll be looking at an even better Brian Johnson," predicts senior wide receiver Brian Hernandez.
Johnson's third year on the field — he was Alex Smith's backup in 2004 — carries the benefit of experience.
So, too, does Whittingham's third season as head coach.
"I think they're both equally important," Johnson said.
Whittingham acknowledges it as well.
"I'm in a routine. I've made the adjustment mentally, psychologically — the whole nine yards," Whittingham said. "I feel very comfortable. What that's got to do is translate into production on the field."
Whittingham will become the 15th coach in Utah football history to enter a third season at the helm. The others have met with mixed results in season three — Ron McBride (6-6), Jim Fassel (5-7), Chuck Stobart (6-5-1), Wayne Howard (6-6), Tom Lovat (3-8), Bill Meek (6-4), Ray Nagel (7-3), Jack Curtice (6-3-1), Ike Armstrong (3-3-1), Thomas Fitzpatrick (3-2-1), Nelson H. Norgren (3-2), Fred Bennion (5-1-1), Joseph H. Maddock (4-1) and Harvey R. Holmes (5-2-1).
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com