Utes Johnson will Redshirt

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By DOUG ALDEN AP Sports Writer

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Brian Johnson will take his redshirt season this fall, allowing his knee to completely recover from surgery and narrowing Utah's quarterback race to two.

The rehabilitation had gone quickly enough that Johnson was challenging Brett Ratliff and Tommy Grady for the starting job, but the knee isn't ready.

Johnson tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the 10th game last season and had surgery Dec. 1.

"We've got a great quarterback situation. I'll come back 100 percent healthy and tear it up," Johnson said after sitting out a scrimmage Thursday. "You still want to play. It's still tough for you, but at the same time you have to be mature about the situation."

He said he has no plan to transfer.

"It's not performance driven. It's a medically-driven decision," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We said from the very beginning, if it's not 100 percent perfect, we're not going to force the issue. We have the luxury to take the medical redshirt."

Johnson still has two years of eligibility. He played as a 17-year-old freshman in 2004, backing up Heisman Trophy finalist Alex Smith as the Utes went 12-0.

He started the first 10 games last season before the ligament in his left knee popped late in a loss to New Mexico. Ratliff took over and was 2-0 as the starter, leading the Utes to a 41-34 overtime win at Brigham Young and a 38-10 victory over Georgia Tech in the Emerald Bowl.

With Johnson redshirting, the job would easily be Ratliff's if it weren't for Grady, who transferred from Oklahoma last fall and sat out because of NCAA rules.

The 6-foot-7 Grady completed 11 of 16 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the scrimmage Thursday, with one interception. Ratliff was 7-for-16 for 116 yards and three TDs.

"There's going to be close evaluation and very soon we'll come up with a (number) 1 and a 2," Whittingham said.

It could be next week before he and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig decide. The Utes open the season Sept. 2 at UCLA.

"Brett Ratliff is a field general. That's his strongest attribute. The players rally around him," Whittingham said. "Tommy Grady's got all the physical attributes."

At Oklahoma, Grady backed up Jason White in 2004 and completed 12 of 14 passes in five games. He redshirted in 2003 and burned a year of eligibility last season by transferring.

Grady has two years of eligibility remaining while Ratliff has just one. Although both can throw the ball, neither is the running threat Johnson was before his knee injury.

Johnson led the Mountain West Conference and was fourth nationally in total offense last year. He threw for 18 touchdowns and ran for eight more. His quick comeback was impressive, but the knee was sometimes sore and swollen and the Utes didn't need three quarterbacks.

"I worked hard throughout my rehab. I did everything the trainers asked me to do," Johnson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that when I get back and healthy, then I'll be the best quarterback in the conference if not the country."