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Busters' Johnson finds niche in secondary
Published 9/18/2009 in Sports
By MIKE KESSINGER
mkessinger@gctelegram.com
Dontrell Johnson walked out of the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex on the Garden City Community College campus after practice with a couple bags of ice wrapped around his left leg. It was the result of an injury he suffered against Air Force Prep on Sept. 4.
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Brad Nading/Telegram Garden City Community College defensive back Dontrell Johnson, left, knocks a pass away from Cisco, Texas' Andrew Amoyaw on a third down play in August at Memorial Stadium.
Yet, it's nothing that will keep him off the field any time soon, even if it might leave his physical capabilities somewhere close to 80 percent right now. Even then, Broncbusters' head coach Lucas Aslin is still pretty confident in his defensive back's abilities.
"That's just the type of kid he is. He's going to play, he's going to play well," Aslin said. "He's not 100 percent, he's banged up. We're going to have to make sure he stays healthy. But even then, Dontrell at 80 percent is probably better than most guys at 100 percent."
Listed on the GCCC depth chart as a cornerback, Johnson also can play safety. In fact ask him which one he prefers and he smiles at the notion of playing free safety.
"I'd say safety, I like that better," he said about which position he likes to play more. "Basically, I have more freedom than anything."
Wherever Johnson has been put on the defensive side in the last two seasons at GCCC, he's been a success. Even with the injury he had at Air Force Prep, which happened in the first half, he's been able to play and do it well. In the Busters' last game, a 17-0 loss at the hands of Butler in Wichita, Johnson finished with seven tackles, six of them solo stops and he also had a pass break-up.
"It was terrible, I was fighting it," Johnson said of playing with the injury against Butler. "I played pretty good even though I was hurting."
Johnson's performance, even with it not being in tip-top shape, was good enough to help keep Garden City in a game where the offense could never gain any momentum. As time ran out on the Busters, the defensive backfield had done all it could, finishing with a strong showing, gaving up just 149 yards through the air against the No. 5 Grizzlies on 12-of-29 passes. Johnson played a significant role, and as well as he played it's something Aslin has come to expect.
A year ago Johnson started the season at cornerback but was moved to safety as the Busters dealt with injuries in the secondary that caused the movement. The move though didn't affect the Moultrie, Ga. native's game. In fact he finished with as many interceptions at safety as he had produced at cornerback. By the time the season was over he had eight interceptions which led the conference. But, when the Jayhawk Conference teams were announced, Johnson's name wasn't on the first team, second team or even honorable mention.
"I think it's one of two things," Aslin said of Johnson not being named to an all-conference team. "I don't think it's a lack of respect, I think it's just how the system is built. People don't actually sit and evaluate who is the better player here or there."
While his coach might be the first to mention Johnson's name left off the list from a year ago, the sophomore would rather not worry about it. He's just happy to be in a position to help the team while at the same time enjoying the chance to intercept a pass. He's well aware of how many he had last year and even remembers that one pick was taken away.
"Sometimes I keep track and sometimes they have to tell me how many (picks) I have."
For the record, Johnson has one this season heading into No. 8-ranked Fort Scott game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The game kicks off at 7 p.m.
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