Leading North Dakota State football rusher Kobe Johnson to transfer to Colorado State
Former North Dakota State running back Kobe Johnson is expected to join the Colorado State football team this summer.
Johnson ran for 961 yards in 2022 as NDSU made the FCS title game. The 5-foot-9, 188-pound back averaged 7.4 yards per carry and had nine rushing touchdowns last season.
In four seasons at North Dakota State he rushed for 2,563 yards, 6.7 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns. He announced Tuesday his intention to transfer to CSU.
A veteran back has become a high priority for CSU and Johnson should fit the role. CSU’s 2022 starter, Avery Morrow, has been suspended since he was arrested on assault allegations in January. His status with the team for 2023 will be uncertain until the case goes through the legal system.
The only running back on scholarship with the team for spring ball was Keegan Holles, who earned a scholarship late in the 2022 season. But Holles went down with a significant injury in spring.
More: Who will start for the Rams this fall? Projected depth chart for Colorado State football
Two highly-touted freshmen — Damian Henderson and Justin Marshall — will join CSU in the summer. The Rams recently signed a junior college running back in K.J. Edwards.
Johnson is the second former North Dakota State player to announce he’s transferring to CSU. Safety Dom Jones also announced that decision and is expected to provide experienced depth to CSU’s secondary.
CSU opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at home against Washington State.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: North Dakota State running back Kobe Johnson to transfer to Colorado State football
