SALT LAKE CITY — Boise State running back Ian Johnson has two loves — his wife Chrissy, to whom he proposed at the end of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, and a city he refuses to leave.

"Boise," Johnson said, "has a tight grip on my heart."

So firm that when the National Football League became an option — does he stay or does he go? — Johnson could not say goodbye.

And, so, the Western Athletic Conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year returns as a senior, with no regrets and no safety net. He did not hedge his return with an insurance policy against a career-ending injury.

"Can I still apply for one?" he said, smiling, as he entertained a group of reporters yesterday at the WAC Football Preview.

Johnson is the marquee running back in a once wide-open league that is now grounded.

His ticket to the NFL should have been a formality: He placed eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a sophomore in 2006, and was named to several All-America teams.

Even Boise State, which toes the chorus line, broke its self-imposed humility rule by acknowledging Johnson's national celebrity in promotions last season.

But flukey internal injuries — a lacerated kidney, punctured lung — and the shattering of the Broncos' perceived invincibility plummeted his pro stock.

He applied for a draft projection from a panel of NFL analysis. The result was disappointing.

"Fifth round," Johnson said. "I was coming off an injury. I didn't play in the bowl game. So that was the grade. There were questions."

Fifth-round money, he conceded, still would be a good living for the young couple. But then ...

"One of the biggest things is Boise," said Johnson, who was born and raised in San Dimas, Calif. "The city has given so much to me. It would be almost a slap in the face for me to leave just because I can leave. I wanted to make sure I could give everything in my power to my city. That's what they are now: my city. That's where I'm from."

He admitted he had "no clue" about the city's allure when he arrived as a freshman.

"My mom came out with me, and she was welcomed with open arms by the community," he recalled. "The community was so good to my mom, she was like, 'I love this place.' Through the years, the city has stood behind us. I go out in the community, and the people are amazing. No one is intrusive. Everyone is polite. It's the type of place I want to raise my (future) children."

Another year in college, Johnson said, would give him another chance to respond to the critics.

Told he was too light at 195 pounds, the 6-foot Johnson gained 12 pounds while maintaining his speed.

During the Junior Pro Day in the spring, Johnson ran 40 yards in 4.48 seconds. He did not train for the 40-yard dash.

He was told that he needed to play on special teams.

"The secret's out," he said, smiling.

Johnson acknowledged that he will be used on kickoff returns this season.

As for questions about his durability, Johnson said: "The one way to do that is to go through the season and show them you're durable. That was the big thing. I can't prove that unless I go out on the field and do it."

Johnson also said he is working to overcome his perceived vulnerability to injuries.

"None of my injuries were recurring injuries," Johnson said. "They were very bizarre. It's still an issue because I had two internal injuries."

Because the injuries were not visible, many had wondered why he did not have a speedier recovery.

"It's easy to say, 'OK, I tore my ACL, I'm out for six months,'" Johnson said. "That's general. No one knows how long you're supposed to be out for a collapsed lung. No one knows how long you're supposed to be out for a lacerated kidney. It's one of those things.

"I know how bad it feels because it's happening to me at his moment," he added. "But no one else will give you that benefit of the doubt. 'I'm a football player. I can handle this.' It's that strong-jock label that you've been given, that says come back as soon as you can even though it's going to hurt you in the long run."

Johnson is like few other football players. He likes to watch soccer telecasts, even though his experience in that sport has been limited to a few indoor games.

He crochets beanies.

While his passion for soccer has received mixed reviews from teammates — he is a fan of Turkey — "all of them don't understand crochet," he said, laughing. But "there's a good quarter of the team that bought stuff or want stuff."

He also said that his wife tops his priority list.

"I will forever be a husband, but I won't always be a football player," Johnson said. "That's something that's always been engraved. My ultimate goal in life is to be a great husband with a great family and a great house. Everything I do in my life, I want leaning toward me being that."