It's not often that you hear about a football player facing off against a forklift. But such is life for the Michigan Wolverines under wily head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Well, not quite. But Michigan running back Drake Johnson did have on heck of a scare this week as he was apparently nearly mauled by a piece of heavy machinery while stretching.
"On Wednesday, an accident occurred at the indoor track and field building involving student-athlete Drake Johnson," the university said in statement. "He was evaluated by a U-M Athletic Department Team Physician and was referred to the U-M Health System for further evaluation."
Johnson was taken to a hospital Wednesday after the incident, though he was apparently able to walk off whatever injury came as a result.
He also took to twitter to express his relief at not having been injured more severely.
All I can say is thank god.
— Drake Johnson (@DRAKEington) April 13, 2016
Harbaugh himself breathed a sigh of relief when speaking to the media.
"Thank God he is all right," Harbaugh said. "Would've killed a lesser man."
Harbaugh added that it's a "miracle" Johnson escaped without some kind of severe injury.
Johnson, a fifth-year senior running back who is also part of the Michigan track team, isn't an integral part of the Wolverines football team, but at 6-foot-1, 210-pounds he's a talented player who adds an interesting element to the backfield for Harbaugh.
Johnson has suffered two catastrophic injuries already during his collegiate career, although those didn't involve forklifts. He tore his ACL for the first time in 2013, and then again in 2014 during the Wolverine's season finale at Ohio State.
Johnson had told reporters that he was using track, in a way, to help strengthen his knee.
During his career at Michigan, Johnson has amassed 641 yards rushing.
