John Johnson: Keeper of the End Zone

Friday, October 7

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

7:30 PM

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October 07, 2016 | Football

When a safety has a player go past him it often marks a touchdown, but this added pressure is what pushes John Johnson

By: By Dan Lumb

In his career, captain and senior safety John Johnson has made over 100 tackles with 84 of those tackles marked as solo. While this statistic alone may be impressive, the importance of each one of those tackles is what decides the outcome of the game.

If a lineman were to miss a tackle, the opposing player will gain an extra five or six yards before running into the linebackers and defensive backs. If an opposing player happens to get past the backs, then they will run into the safeties who will end the play. But what happens if a safety misses a tackle?

Who is there to back them up?

The answer is no one.

In football, the safety can be looked at as the goalie. They are considered the last line of defense and if a player were to get past them then it will likely result in a touchdown. This is an added pressure that no other position on the field has to endure. However, for players like Johnson, this pressure is what makes the game that much more exciting for them.

"There is definitely pressure but I like it. I know that my teammates are counting on me to get the guy on the ground if they get to me. I never want to let my teammates down so that extra pressure works for me and I've enjoyed it."

When he was first recruited, Johnson knew that the transition to Boston from Maryland was not going to be too difficult, but fully understood that there would be some differences in how the city worked. While he loved the idea of exploring a new city, it wasn't until he met his future teammates that Johnson was sold on Boston College.

"I fell in love with the campus, but I had a great time with the players and they made me feel like I had a family here."

After committing to Boston College, Johnson made an immediate impact as he played in all 12 games as a true freshman. Johnson caught the eyes of coaches and fans as they all saw the potential he had in the future.

Johnson's eyes have to be everywhere on the field, but off the field, something else caught his eye: the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award.

The Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award was named after McGillis, who passed away from leukemia in 1992 and was a former defensive back at Boston College. The award has been handed out annually since 1993 to a Boston College defensive back who best exemplifies the personal qualities of team dedication and leadership by example, an extraordinary competitive spirit, and personal concern for family friends and teammates.

"Once I saw the award, I knew I wanted it. When I was a freshman I saw Ted Davenport win it and he was a great kid. Right then I knew it was a great honor. It is an award of character, so getting the opportunity to be recognized as a guy with high character meant a lot to me."

When looking at the names on the award, Johnson made it his goal to one day have his own marked in Boston College history. As the years went on, Johnson's role on the team only grew larger and by the end of his sophomore year he became a starter.

Each spring, Johnson saw a fellow teammate receive the award and he so desperately wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Finally, in the spring game of his junior year, Johnson was named the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award, completing the goal he set when he first became an Eagle.

Johnson has a lot of great memories as a football player at Boston College. During his time, he watched a struggling defense turn into one of the best in the nation. He has been able to participate in two bowl games. He was on the field when Boston College upset No. 9 USC. He got the opportunity to play No.5 Notre Dame at Fenway Park and recorded an interception.

While he may have been able to do all of those great things, Johnson doesn't want to be remembered by one specific moment in his career.

"I want to be remembered as a kid with great character, who was loved by his teammates and someone they can always count on; and just an overall great football player."

Johnson will graduate this year with a degree in communications from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences knowing that he left his mark on Boston College. He will be greatly missed as a football player, a role model and as a kid who wore his heart on his sleeve, regardless of what he tried to accomplish.