| Years before rushing for over 2,000 yards for | | | | In addition to setting a school record for |
| the Tennessee Titans in 2009 running back Chris | | | | all-purpose yardage as a senior Chris set |
| Johnson broke records at East Carolina University | | | | numerous other records throughout his college |
| during his college days while playing for the ECU | | | | career. As a freshman alone he broke eight school |
| Pirates. While the pro bowler and current National | | | | season or game records in terms of |
| Football League (NFL) star is widely considered the | | | | unprecedented levels of achievement by a |
| fastest player in the NFL (based on his 40 yard | | | | freshman at East Carolina. In his sophomore and |
| dash time) his collegiate days at East Carolina | | | | junior years of college he would go on to set |
| University were also highly productive long before | | | | school records for single season receptions and |
| he was a household name and the prize of | | | | career receptions by a running back. |
| fantasy football drafts. | | | | The knack that Chris Johnson has for setting |
| Growing up in Orlando, Florida Johnson was not a | | | | records continued in his transition from college to |
| highly recruited prospect due in part to his | | | | the pros as he tied the NFL combine record for |
| relatively small size of roughly 5'10" and 170 | | | | the fastest 40 yard dash time run by any player |
| pounds. Despite a lack of recruitment by big time | | | | at 4.24 seconds. After a successful rookie |
| college football programs Chris did find a spot on | | | | campaign in an offensive scheme that had him |
| the roster of the East Carolina University (ECU) | | | | sharing playing time with a complimentary back |
| Pirates team located in Greenville, North Carolina. | | | | (the larger LenDale White) Chris Johnson |
| As a Florida native Johnson gradually adapted to | | | | exceeded the expectations of even his most |
| the North Carolina landscape and progressively | | | | optimistic proponents with a record shattering |
| improved his football skills to the point where he | | | | second year performance that saw him eclipse |
| had a breakout season as a college senior at ECU | | | | the NFL record for yards from scrimmage |
| when he tallied nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards | | | | (rushing yards plus receiving yards) in a single |
| (2,960) and punched in 24 touchdowns. Those | | | | season. The record was previously held by |
| numbers earned Johnson the high honor of being | | | | Marshall Faulk. The new high water mark |
| named an All-American, a honor that would later | | | | surpassed a milestone as Johnson tallied 2,509 |
| play a role in contributing to his being taken in the | | | | yards from scrimmage. |
| first round of the NFL draft which is a rare feat | | | | If history is any indication of future success it |
| for a player from ECU to perform when coming | | | | would seem quite certain that Chris Johnson is not |
| out of the less heralded mid-major Conference | | | | yet done with his record breaking performances. |
| USA. | | | | |
