SALT LAKE CITY — There was little recognition when Eddie Johnson completed his career as the leading rusher in University of Utah football history. His final tally of 3,219 yards kind of got lost in the shuffle that day.
A 57-28 upset victory for the Utes over rival BYU overshadowed a lot of things on Nov. 19, 1988, at what was then known as Rice Stadium. It was a chilly 34 degrees when the game kicked off. By the time it was over, Johnson had heated things up with four touchdowns and 112 yards on the ground.
“I’m very happy for him. I’m extremely happy for him. I’m in his corner. I know that he’s going to do well and I would like him to be a great ambassador of that title, something that I took for granted because it wasn’t a big deal to me.” — Eddie Johnson, on Zack Moss
It came a week after Johnson surpassed Tony Lindsay for the top spot on Utah’s career rushing list. He netted 136 yards in a 42-21 win at Utah State.
“When I obtained the record it wasn’t a big deal. There was no fanfare because the internet wasn’t around. I think they announced it at the game,” Johnson recalled this week. “That was it. There was no game ball. There was no shaking of hands. It was just like, ‘Oh cool, that’s great.’”
For decades the record stood. Johnson said the first thought of endangerment came when Devontae Booker played for the Utes a few years back.
“That’s when I started to think, ‘No way. I have that record,’” Johnson said.
Flash-forward to the present. Johnson knew his time as the career leader could be coming to an end when Zack Moss announced he would return to Utah for his senior season to take care of some unfinished business.
“I’m very happy for him. I’m extremely happy for him. I’m in his corner,” Johnson said. “I know that he’s going to do well and I would like him to be a great ambassador of that title, something that I took for granted because it wasn’t a big deal to me.”
Johnson added that it was just another number. However, upon looking back and noting the weight people are putting on it now, Johnson acknowledged he could have done more with it terms of the community, sharing it with kids and other stuff.
“I’m sure that (Moss) will,” Johnson said. “That’s the advice I would give to him.”
Although Johnson isn’t able to make it to Utah’s contest with Arizona State on Saturday, he does plan to attend the game against California on Oct. 26.
“I look forward to meeting him,” Johnson said. “I heard he’s a great kid.”
Moss is just 55 yards away from becoming the program’s career rushing leader, a mark he’ll likely reach this weekend against the Sun Devils. Besides being a pivotal Pac-12 South clash, it could be a historical outing for Moss and the Utes.
“Could be,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “So we’ll see. We’re not focused on that. I know he’s not focused on that. We’re just focused on trying to win the football game. But I believe that he’ll get it at some point, barring injury, so when it happens that’ll be great for him.”
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Zaccheus Malik Moss enrolled at Utah after a stellar high school career in Florida, where he played three years for Mater Academy Charter before finishing up at Hallandale High School. As a senior, Moss rushed for 1,098 yards and 17 touchdowns. The running back MVP of the Rivals Camp Series in Miami also caught 25 passes for 425 yards and four scores.
The son of Cassandra and Anthony Moss comes from a football lineage. His cousins Santana Moss and Sinorice Moss were stars at Miami and went on to play several years in the NFL.
As a freshman at Utah in 2016, Moss appeared in 10 games and ran for 382 yards. The following year he upped his yardage to 1,173. He followed it up with 1,096 yards in 2018, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors in the process.
Now, as a senior, Moss has 514 yards at the midway mark — putting him on course to become Utah’s first three-time 1,000-yard rusher. Numerous other school records are within reach, particularly the career rushing mark.
“I think it’ll be great for him. Shoot, that’s all on him, in terms of the O-lines that he’s played behind, some of the play calls, the running and him breaking tackles,” said Utah running backs coach Kiel McDonald. “He’s a really good player at the end of the day. It will be nice to see him be able to do it, but he’s going up against a very, very tough run defense that has not allowed a 100-yard rusher yet. So he’s got some work to do.”
Moss, though, embraces contact. It’s not something the 5-foot-10, 222-pound back shies away from.
“He’s a tough cookie,” McDonald said. “I think he’s going to be physical first and ask questions later, for sure.”
Being a tough tackle is his aim. Moss noted that former NFL star Marshawn Lynch has been his biggest inspiration. He’s among the running backs that Moss watches highlights from on YouTube prior to games. Moss, who has played the position for five or six years, said he learns a lot by doing so. He credits watching Lynch as a catalyst for his aggressive approach.
At Pac-12 media day in July, Whittingham predicted big things for Moss.
“He’s a very determined kid and if he has the type of year that we hope he has, he’ll leave here hands-down as the leading rusher in Utah football history. That says a lot,” Whittingham said. “We’ve had some good runners come through here. For him to be able to have the chance to be the most productive of all of them, that speaks very highly of him.”
• • •
Pursuing records is just part of the reason Moss opted to return for his senior year and put the NFL on hold. He’s scheduled to graduate with a communications degree this semester. Other factors in his decision include winning a Pac-12 championship and playing with the guys one more time.
Moss was high school teammates with quarterback Tyler Huntley and wide receiver Demari Simpkins. They form Utah’s “Hallandale Trio.” Huntley and Simpkins are excited about the success Moss has had at Utah.
“That’s amazing that he came here to get a lot of things accomplished and that’s good that he’ll be going out like legend,” Huntley said.
Simpkins added his compliments.
“I feel like it’s a blessing. He deserves it. He worked his butt off for four years here,” Simpkins said. “I’m proud of him and what he’s doing for himself and his family right now.”
Speaking of which, the latter could make things extra special on Saturday. Moss will have his parents in the stands at Rice-Eccles Stadium. They’re making the journey from Florida together for the first time to watch him play. Previously, his mother attended the Washington game last year and his father was on hand for the Heart of Dallas Bowl at the end of his sophomore season.
Getting the rushing record, however, isn’t what motivates Moss most. He’s all about getting the win first, adding that acknowledging individual honors can come later.
If all goes as planned, though, there won’t be much of a wait. Moss has proven to be quite a force racking up 14 career 100-yard games. He had 121 on five carries in last week’s 52-7 win at Oregon State.
“I’ve pretty much been blessed to play the game at a high level for this team,” said Moss, who added that he’s determined to get better each day and never settle.
And now a record-setting payoff awaits.
EXTRA POINTS: Utah has given up an average of just 4.5 points per game in the second half this season. ... Huntley has the longest active streak in the FBS with 133 pass attempts without an interception. ... The Utes lead the Pac-12 in rushing offense (228.8 ypg), team pass efficiency (183.38 rating), rushing defense (52.8 ypg), scoring defense (13.2 ppg), third-down conversion defense (29.6 percent), first downs: offense (142) and time of possession (34:52).
Utes on the air
No. 17 Arizona State (5-1, 2-1) at No. 13/14 Utah (5-1, 2-1)
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Saturday, 4 p.m.
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: ESPN 700AM