Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

SALT LAKE CITY - Boise State running back Ian Johnson could have played in the Hawaii Bowl last year.

That's what the senior told media during the final session of WAC media days in Salt Lake City. The All-WAC running back said he told coaches he was healthy enough to play despite a sprained left ankle.

East Carolina beat the Broncos 41-38 after ECU kicker Ben Hartman kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired.

"I don't suit up if I can't play and that's the reason I suited up," Johnson said. "I took that whole week, rehabbed my leg and everything, and I was ready to go out there and run."

Ian Johnson carried the ball just once for 1 yard in the first quarter and finished with 11 yards on four carries.

"They never asked the question (whether I could play), my number was never called," Ian Johnson said. "I told them at the beginning of the game that I was ready... I try not to show too much emotion. It was a call that was made for the team and if you feel the best way to go is someone else I can be a little angry but I'm going to accept it."

Johnson will once against find himself fighting for his job as coach Chris Petersen said sophomore's Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper would figure into the running back rotation.

"One of the things that's probably going to help Ian is the depth that we have at that position," Petersen said. "We don't have to play him every down and hopefully get him to last the season and also to be pushed a little bit by some of these other guys that we have."