Cade Johnson receives all-freshman accolades

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South Dakota State wide receiver/kick returner Cade Johnson has received recognition on a pair of FCS freshman All-America teams.

A native of Papillion, Neb., who played at Bellevue West High School, Johnson earned first-team honors from HERO Sports and second-team accolades from Phil Steele. During the 2017 season, Johnson led the Jackrabbits in all-purpose yardage with 1,166 yards. He tallied a single-season school-record 839 kickoff return yards on 30 attempts (28-yard average) and became the first SDSU player since 1964 to record two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same season.

Johnson also ranked third on the squad with 23 receptions for 318 yards (13.8 yards per catch) and three scores. He twice was honored as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week.

Johnson was part of an SDSU squad that set a program record for victories in a season, finishing the 2017 campaign with an 11-3 overall record. The Jackrabbits made their sixth consecutive appearance in the FCS playoffs and reached the semifinals for the first time.