Another year, another ring for Johnson
Another year and another couple of trophies for Texarkana (Ark.) Arkansas High School running back Dennis Johnson. For the second consecutive season, Arkansas High played in the state championship game and for the second consecutive season, Johnson came away with both a state championship trophy and a game MVP trophy.
"We won 13-0 against Lake Hampton," Johnson said. "They had beaten us earlier in the year. I rushed for 160 yards but I didn't get any touchdowns. It's the same thing as last year. I got the game MVP but it was against a better team this year so it was a little more exciting."
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Redemption was sweet against a team that handed Arkansas High its only loss of the season, but Johnson wasn't fully involved in the previous loss.
"When we played them the first time, I was hurt so I didn't really get to play the first time," he said. "But it felt good to play them again to get a chance to redeem ourselves. I was happy about winning the state, but I was said that it was my last high school football game."
Johnson hasn't thought much about recruiting throughout his team's championship run but now that the season is over, he is ready to focus in.
"Yes sir, I'm very excited about what's going to happen with recruiting," he said. "I should start taking visits. I'm just going to be talking it over with my momma and daddy and see which is the best school to go to."
Though Johnson has no set list at the moment some of his favorites include LSU, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Houston is a school that looks to be sneaking into the picture as well.
In the offseason, Johnson will spend some time with the track team where he has a sub-22 second time in the 200 meters and a 10.35 in 100 meters.
At this point Johnson's criteria for a school is a smart one.
"Running back depth chart and offensive line are big," he said. "I'll also look at what the facilities are like and what their program is like in athletics and academics."