Donnie Johnson. A mere mention of the name brings back fond memories of watching him play football and basketball for the Gallia Academy Blue Devils. I had the privilege of covering him for WOUB’s hit high school football Friday night show—Gridiron Glory.
In my two years of working with Gridiron Glory, the fleet-footed quarterback was without a doubt, my favorite football player that I watched in Southeast Ohio. He danced around defenders with ease and when the pressurized moments reached their peak, Johnson always seemed to raise his game up another notch.
He returned a fumble for a touchdown against Athens in a game that was so foggy, it looked as if the clouds practically landed on the field. That touchdown also happened to be a crucial turning point in the game, giving the Blue Devils a victory. Then when he had a SEOAL crown on the line and a playoff berth at stake against Logan, Johnson delivered what was arguably his finest performance of his high school football career—five rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and one interception on defense. Simply put, it gets no better than that folks.
Johnson was a player who always had a knack for making the biggest plays on the biggest of stages. In his senior season for the Blue Devils, Johnson coasted through opposing defenses to the tune of 1,372 yards on 124 carries, averaging a gaudy 11 yards per attempt, and piling up 15 touchdowns on the ground.
The southpaw was clearly a far better runner in the open field than he was a passer. In 2003, he threw for over 1,000 yards, tossed ten touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions. Still, he could throw a beautiful looking deep ball from time-to-time, one such occasion came against the Logan Chieftains in 2003, when he completed a beautifully lofted touchdown pass to a Blue Devil receiver.
He helped the Blue Devils win the SEOAL title in 2003 and led them to a playoff berth. Johnson racked up the individual honors in the post-season, including the prestigious award of 2003 Gridiron Glory Player of the Year—the honor given to the top football player in Southeast Ohio by WOUB.
Johnson is discussed in the video at 1:30 until the end.
The thing about Johnson is he was a superior athlete—not just a football player. He earned all-state honors twice in Division III(Ohio) for basketball and football. Perhaps even more impressive, he was the only player ever to earn MVP honors in the SEOAL in both football and basketball in the same season. He was a remarkable athlete and I’ll never forget watching him play. He went on to star for the Tiffin University Dragons, where he played quarterback, receiver, and running back at times.
A torn PCL later, Johnson landed a GA position at Urbana University, where he began coaching quarterbacks and working as the team equipment manager in summer of 2008. He’s been coaching there ever since.I had the chance to catch up with Johnson via Facebook and ask him some questions through e-mail.
The fleet-footed signal caller was gracious enough to answer some of my questions and I thank him once again for taking the time to answer some questions. The interview is listed below and I hope you enjoy the interview with a man that will forever be known as a Southeast Ohio legend—former Gallia Academy QB Donnie Johnson.
Q:You were one of the best athletes in the history of the SEOAL—the only athlete ever to be named MVP in both basketball in football in the conference in the same season. Was there ever a moment when you were growing up as a kid when you thought, “Hey, I could have a serious future in athletics!”
A: As a kid I grew up with two guys--Joey and Greg James--who were great basketball athletes. They were also seven and nine years older than I was at the time, so playing against someone everyday who was that much older than me—it forced me to always raise my game up to not be kicked off the court day after day. I always excelled in sports at a young age. I always dreamed of becoming the best I could be throughout my career and just in life as well. All the hard work from when I was a young kid to present day has been a big contribution to my success.
Q: You were a rather legendary signal-caller for the Gallia Academy Blue Devils in high school, tormenting opposing defenses time and time again. What was your favorite game in your high school football career and why?
A: My favorite game would have to be the Logan game my senior year. It was for the SEOAL title, and we also needed a win to have a chance to get in the playoffs. This game was a playmakers’ dream because what better game to play in than the tenth game of the season with league title and playoffs written all over it. I love pressure situations and this was a pressure game. So, by far, this was the favorite game in my high school career. It shows from the stats of that game, I had five rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and I had one interception on defense.
Q: You made one of the most amazing plays I’d ever seen by a football player against Athens High School. It was so foggy that you couldn’t even see the action from our cameras with Gridiron Glory on WOUB. You stole the ball from Athens WR Ryan Mingus, then raced off to score a touchdown that happened to be a difference maker in the game. Can you talk about how you pulled that off?
A: Hahaha that game was crazy. Initially it was a clear game with no fog, then Athens scored a touchdown. Then, as me and Jaymes Haggerty were back to return the kickoff, we look out of the end zone and the fog was just settling in. We looked at each other and were wondering “What the heck is that?” We thought it was smoke from someone grilling at the game. Then we thought maybe it was smoke from a cannon, but we didn’t hear a cannon. Then about five plays later, you couldn’t see from the sideline to the opposite hash. That play was crazy. Athens quarterback Grant Gregory threw an out route and I broke on the receiver(Mingus), wrapped him up, and saw our free safety coming to clean up the tackle. Then I just stripped the ball out, picked it up, and jogged to the end zone with only the ref who was right in front of the play.
Q: Who is your favorite football player of all-time and why?
A: I would have to say running back Reggie Bush, his running style is what I take after and also his versatility. He’s my favorite player even though he doesn’t play QB, but I moved to QB my senior year in high school because we didn’t have anyone else to play the position.
Q: What person had the biggest impact on your football career throughout your life?
A: I know you said one person, but there are too many people who have had a huge impact on me. My mom, dad, my brother, and two sisters. All of my friends, and my boy Jim Jim.
Q: You joined the Urbana Blue Knights coaching staff in the summer of 2008, serving as the quarterbacks coach and equipment manager. What made you want to get into football coaching?
Donnie Johnson now coaches quarterbacks for the Urbana University Blue Knights. He's chatting with some of his players right here.
A: I love the game of football and when I tore my PCL in my left knee during my fourth game of my senior year at TU, I had to think of a way to stay involved with football. I’ve always wanted to coach but I never thought it would be this soon. Since I was a kid I’d always wanted to play somewhere at the next level and when the injury happened I knew I had to take a different route. So I finished my senior season with a torn PCL. Then the opportunity came for me to follow most of the coaching staff at Tiffin to Urbana and become a grad assistant and coach quarterbacks. Now that I'm here, I love this profession and will continue to strive from here on out to become successful.
Q: What qualities/characteristics do you think most great quarterbacks have?
A: All great quarterbacks have to have a great amount of work ethic, drive, confidence and be great leaders.
Q: What is your favorite type of offensive scheme and why?
A: The spread offense is the best offensive scheme in all levels of football. It is really changing the way the game is played and the type of athletes playing it.
Q: You saw action at quarterback, running back, and receiver for the Tiffin University Dragons. What was your favorite position to play and why?
Donnie Johnson was also a star for the Tiffin University Dragons.
A: I loved playing all of the positions. First, we had a great quarterback in Matt Root and he was a beast. So it was great because I could do a lot of the quarterback running plays, then next I could line up at wide receiver. It made the defense very nervous to have two quarterbacks on the field the whole game. So I really loved playing all of them, not just one.
Q: What was your favorite moment of your college days at Tiffin?
Johnson discusses his best memory at Tiffin.
A: The best moment from TU was kinda like the same from high school, we were going into the last game of the season and fighting for a league title. We played Central State at their place and won 62-23 to cap off a 9-2 record and 19-3 for my junior and senior year.
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
A: Man, I listen to R&B, Rap, anything with a good beat, but Lil’ Wayne most of the time.
Q: Do you have any aspirations to coach football on the Division 1-A level or NFL someday? What teams would you be interested in coaching?
A: Yes, I would love to coach at the highest level possible. That would be great to reach the top as a coach. My favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys so I would love to coach there.
Q: Who are some of the current coaches in college football that you admire the most and why?
A: Dave Taynor, this guy is a coaching machine. He knows the game very well and brings a lot of passion to the game of football. He is a coach who fits my style of play and loves the game even more than I do. (Coached me at TU and now is the head coach at Urbana University).
Jim Osbourn--basketball coach at Gallia Academy. He developed me in the sense of having the mindset I have to play any sport. If you have no chance of winning a game on paper, this is the coach you want to prepare you for having a chance to win that game.
Head coach Matt Bokovitz (Gallia Academy), coach Saunders (football coach—Gallia Academy) and everyone else who I had the privilege to play for.
In my two years of working with Gridiron Glory, the fleet-footed quarterback was without a doubt, my favorite football player that I watched in Southeast Ohio. He danced around defenders with ease and when the pressurized moments reached their peak, Johnson always seemed to raise his game up another notch.
He returned a fumble for a touchdown against Athens in a game that was so foggy, it looked as if the clouds practically landed on the field. That touchdown also happened to be a crucial turning point in the game, giving the Blue Devils a victory. Then when he had a SEOAL crown on the line and a playoff berth at stake against Logan, Johnson delivered what was arguably his finest performance of his high school football career—five rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and one interception on defense. Simply put, it gets no better than that folks.
Johnson was a player who always had a knack for making the biggest plays on the biggest of stages. In his senior season for the Blue Devils, Johnson coasted through opposing defenses to the tune of 1,372 yards on 124 carries, averaging a gaudy 11 yards per attempt, and piling up 15 touchdowns on the ground.
The southpaw was clearly a far better runner in the open field than he was a passer. In 2003, he threw for over 1,000 yards, tossed ten touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions. Still, he could throw a beautiful looking deep ball from time-to-time, one such occasion came against the Logan Chieftains in 2003, when he completed a beautifully lofted touchdown pass to a Blue Devil receiver.
He helped the Blue Devils win the SEOAL title in 2003 and led them to a playoff berth. Johnson racked up the individual honors in the post-season, including the prestigious award of 2003 Gridiron Glory Player of the Year—the honor given to the top football player in Southeast Ohio by WOUB.
Johnson is discussed in the video at 1:30 until the end.
The thing about Johnson is he was a superior athlete—not just a football player. He earned all-state honors twice in Division III(Ohio) for basketball and football. Perhaps even more impressive, he was the only player ever to earn MVP honors in the SEOAL in both football and basketball in the same season. He was a remarkable athlete and I’ll never forget watching him play. He went on to star for the Tiffin University Dragons, where he played quarterback, receiver, and running back at times.
A torn PCL later, Johnson landed a GA position at Urbana University, where he began coaching quarterbacks and working as the team equipment manager in summer of 2008. He’s been coaching there ever since.I had the chance to catch up with Johnson via Facebook and ask him some questions through e-mail.
The fleet-footed signal caller was gracious enough to answer some of my questions and I thank him once again for taking the time to answer some questions. The interview is listed below and I hope you enjoy the interview with a man that will forever be known as a Southeast Ohio legend—former Gallia Academy QB Donnie Johnson.
Q:You were one of the best athletes in the history of the SEOAL—the only athlete ever to be named MVP in both basketball in football in the conference in the same season. Was there ever a moment when you were growing up as a kid when you thought, “Hey, I could have a serious future in athletics!”
A: As a kid I grew up with two guys--Joey and Greg James--who were great basketball athletes. They were also seven and nine years older than I was at the time, so playing against someone everyday who was that much older than me—it forced me to always raise my game up to not be kicked off the court day after day. I always excelled in sports at a young age. I always dreamed of becoming the best I could be throughout my career and just in life as well. All the hard work from when I was a young kid to present day has been a big contribution to my success.
Q: You were a rather legendary signal-caller for the Gallia Academy Blue Devils in high school, tormenting opposing defenses time and time again. What was your favorite game in your high school football career and why?
A: My favorite game would have to be the Logan game my senior year. It was for the SEOAL title, and we also needed a win to have a chance to get in the playoffs. This game was a playmakers’ dream because what better game to play in than the tenth game of the season with league title and playoffs written all over it. I love pressure situations and this was a pressure game. So, by far, this was the favorite game in my high school career. It shows from the stats of that game, I had five rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, and I had one interception on defense.
Q: You made one of the most amazing plays I’d ever seen by a football player against Athens High School. It was so foggy that you couldn’t even see the action from our cameras with Gridiron Glory on WOUB. You stole the ball from Athens WR Ryan Mingus, then raced off to score a touchdown that happened to be a difference maker in the game. Can you talk about how you pulled that off?
A: Hahaha that game was crazy. Initially it was a clear game with no fog, then Athens scored a touchdown. Then, as me and Jaymes Haggerty were back to return the kickoff, we look out of the end zone and the fog was just settling in. We looked at each other and were wondering “What the heck is that?” We thought it was smoke from someone grilling at the game. Then we thought maybe it was smoke from a cannon, but we didn’t hear a cannon. Then about five plays later, you couldn’t see from the sideline to the opposite hash. That play was crazy. Athens quarterback Grant Gregory threw an out route and I broke on the receiver(Mingus), wrapped him up, and saw our free safety coming to clean up the tackle. Then I just stripped the ball out, picked it up, and jogged to the end zone with only the ref who was right in front of the play.
Q: Who is your favorite football player of all-time and why?
A: I would have to say running back Reggie Bush, his running style is what I take after and also his versatility. He’s my favorite player even though he doesn’t play QB, but I moved to QB my senior year in high school because we didn’t have anyone else to play the position.
Q: What person had the biggest impact on your football career throughout your life?
A: I know you said one person, but there are too many people who have had a huge impact on me. My mom, dad, my brother, and two sisters. All of my friends, and my boy Jim Jim.
Q: You joined the Urbana Blue Knights coaching staff in the summer of 2008, serving as the quarterbacks coach and equipment manager. What made you want to get into football coaching?
Donnie Johnson now coaches quarterbacks for the Urbana University Blue Knights. He's chatting with some of his players right here.A: I love the game of football and when I tore my PCL in my left knee during my fourth game of my senior year at TU, I had to think of a way to stay involved with football. I’ve always wanted to coach but I never thought it would be this soon. Since I was a kid I’d always wanted to play somewhere at the next level and when the injury happened I knew I had to take a different route. So I finished my senior season with a torn PCL. Then the opportunity came for me to follow most of the coaching staff at Tiffin to Urbana and become a grad assistant and coach quarterbacks. Now that I'm here, I love this profession and will continue to strive from here on out to become successful.
Q: What qualities/characteristics do you think most great quarterbacks have?
A: All great quarterbacks have to have a great amount of work ethic, drive, confidence and be great leaders.
Q: What is your favorite type of offensive scheme and why?
A: The spread offense is the best offensive scheme in all levels of football. It is really changing the way the game is played and the type of athletes playing it.
Q: You saw action at quarterback, running back, and receiver for the Tiffin University Dragons. What was your favorite position to play and why?
Donnie Johnson was also a star for the Tiffin University Dragons.A: I loved playing all of the positions. First, we had a great quarterback in Matt Root and he was a beast. So it was great because I could do a lot of the quarterback running plays, then next I could line up at wide receiver. It made the defense very nervous to have two quarterbacks on the field the whole game. So I really loved playing all of them, not just one.
Q: What was your favorite moment of your college days at Tiffin?
Johnson discusses his best memory at Tiffin.A: The best moment from TU was kinda like the same from high school, we were going into the last game of the season and fighting for a league title. We played Central State at their place and won 62-23 to cap off a 9-2 record and 19-3 for my junior and senior year.
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
A: Man, I listen to R&B, Rap, anything with a good beat, but Lil’ Wayne most of the time.
Q: Do you have any aspirations to coach football on the Division 1-A level or NFL someday? What teams would you be interested in coaching?
A: Yes, I would love to coach at the highest level possible. That would be great to reach the top as a coach. My favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys so I would love to coach there.
Q: Who are some of the current coaches in college football that you admire the most and why?
A: Dave Taynor, this guy is a coaching machine. He knows the game very well and brings a lot of passion to the game of football. He is a coach who fits my style of play and loves the game even more than I do. (Coached me at TU and now is the head coach at Urbana University).
Jim Osbourn--basketball coach at Gallia Academy. He developed me in the sense of having the mindset I have to play any sport. If you have no chance of winning a game on paper, this is the coach you want to prepare you for having a chance to win that game.
Head coach Matt Bokovitz (Gallia Academy), coach Saunders (football coach—Gallia Academy) and everyone else who I had the privilege to play for.
No comments:
Post a Comment