2008 ATH has knows winning feeling

Texas City athlete Kris Johnston has a taste of winning.

A member of the Stingaree Class 5A state track team, Johnston has his high school championship ring – in track. The confidence should translate onto the football field as Johnston is rated as a junior to watch in the Greater Houston area. Johnston (6-1, 185-pounds) has two special ingredients for today's skill position recruit – speed and size. He also has a lineage as his brother plays linebacker for the SMU Mustangs.

"What Kris has that Kyle didn't is the size," father Kyle Johnston said. "Kyle has been pushing Kris and can't believe how he's developed. Kyle says that he's as good a defensive back that he has seen in college. Kris will be able to compete and excel at the college level."

Johnston has blazing speed to boot. He ran the 400-meter and 4 x 400-meter relay for Texas City as a sophomore and will add the 200-meters and the 200-meter relay this season. On the football field, he is slated to play safety and receiver, and will return kicks.

"Coach (Tim) Finn is trying to get the ball in his hands as much as possible," Johnston said. "I think the winning in track will permeate to the football field. I know they are all excited to get started."

According to the father, the son is oblivious to the preseason accolades and rankings he has received this summer. Johnston has attended Texas, Baylor and Texas A&M's camps and is getting his feet wet to the process.

"We've been through it with our older son, so he's humble with it," Johnston said. "He came in the other day with a stack full of mail and acted like it was nothing. It's something.

"He loves Texas and Baylor right now," he said. "He had great chemistry with the Baylor coaches and likes their track program also. If he gets offered by the right school early in the Spring, I think he'll commit.

"We want him to stay in Texas, but I know that Houston, LSU and Arkansas are pursuing him a little bit," he said. "We'll see if they stick with him."