D'Ernest Johnson is a Pass-Catching Back for South Florida. D'Ernest's 2016 season ranks in the 98th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 110 plays — a elite rate for the RB.
Third-down weapon out of the backfield. Routes, hands, and separation in coverage define this role as much as rushing.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | 2019 | 213 | 0.470 | 4.7 | 100.1 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | LSU | 2019 | 216 | 0.490 | 5.0 | 105.8 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsTowson | W56-20 | — | 6 | 33 | 5.5 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 0.53 |
| 2 | vsNorthern Illinois | W48-17 | -2.4 | 16 | 87 | 5.4 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 1 | 0.35 |
| 3 | @Syracuse | W45-20 | -2.7 | 2 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Car 11 · Rush Yds 27 · Avg 2.5 · Rush TD 0
| 19 |
| 9.5 |
| 0 |
| 2 |
| 37 |
| 0 |
| 0.96 |
| 4 | vsFlorida State | L35-55 | 24.0 | 8 | 82 | 10.3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 1.16 |
| 5 | @Cincinnati | W45-20 | -3.6 | 9 | 20 | 2.2 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.47 |
| 6 | vsEast Carolina | W38-22 | -9.0 | 7 | 36 | 5.1 | 0 | 5 | 53 | 2 | 0.69 |
| 7 | vsUConn | W42-27 | -11.6 | 8 | 28 | 3.5 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0.02 |
| 8 | @Temple | L30-46 | 11.9 | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.16 |
| 9 | vsNavy | W52-45 | 6.8 | 19 | 107 | 5.6 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0.35 |
| 11 | @Memphis | W49-42 | 7.7 | 9 | 48 | 5.3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0.44 |
| 12 | @SMU | W35-27 | -10.8 | 7 | 11 | 1.6 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.04 |
| 13 | vsUCF | W48-31 | -2.2 | 6 | 29 | 4.8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1 | vsSouth Carolina | W46-39 | -4.0 | 11 | 27 | 2.5 | 0 | 6 | 95 | 1 | 0.60 |