The secret is out

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Even though he's rushed for more than 2,000 yards the past two seasons and led his team to the state semifinals this year, Highland Park star junior running back Darius Johnson might be Michigan's best kept secret. But if you ask Johnson that's the way his grandmother wants it.

Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound power back that racked up 2,167 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore and rushed for 2,293 yards and 30 scores this season, says he has remained humble despite the huge yardage that he's racked up because his grandmother taught him to be that way.

Eula Evans has been watching over Johnson for about five years and the time he's spent with her has turned his life around. Instead of moving from home-to-home and not having a stable leader in his life, he's now with his grandmother and the time spent with her has been invaluable.

"He's really turned things around after he moved in with her," Highland Park coach Cedric Dortch said. "She's given him a real sense of direction. I don't know where he'd be without her.'

Johnson agrees.

"My grandma is important," Johnson said for the first time 10 minutes into the interview. "She's been taking care of me right now for about five years now. She keeps me in check. She's hard on me, but that's the best thing I need. She tells me to play my game, focus on my books and don't let anybody get to you.

"She's always on my neck. But I love her because of it. She keeps me humble."

The strong push off the field has allowed him to make a strong push on the field. Johnson said he prefers to run between the tackles and compares himself to a Jerome Bettis type running back.

"I'm a between the tackles type guy," Johnson, who has been timed at 4.6-seconds in the 40-yard dash, said. "I like to run it up the middle. My favorite play is 47-zone. The play is made to go outside, but there is always a cutback lane inside. I know I can cut it back and get some big yards on it all the time."

Johnson is also a heck of a linebacker. Heading into his team's playoff game last Friday night he was second on the team with 88 tackles and one interception. With his ability to make big plays on defense, some might look at him on that side of the ball.

"I'll play whatever or wherever the coaches tell me to," he said. "I'm not going to limit myself to one side of the football."

But Johnson does hear the whispers from people at school and people in the community. Some are calling him the best player every to come out of Highland Park, a program that has turned around after Dortch took over after years of floundering and seeing its top players head to other Detroit high schools.

However, Johnson said he's not letting the attention get to his head – thanks to grandma.

"I try not to let the hype get to me," Johnson said. "Most people tell me that you're going to be one of the greatest players ever to come out of the city. I try not to let that get to me. People take cheap shots at me in the games, but the referees don't see it. I just have to keep my cool and play the next play. I'll get them next time when I get a touchdown.

"All of this is good, but it's really important for me to do well on the football field for her. I'm trying to be like her son. Her son's a lawyer. I want to be right behind him and make something out of myself."

While Johnson might be a budding local legend in the city, many people – including college coaches – are just now starting to find out more about him.

"You could say I'm one of the state's best kept secrets," Johnson said. "I just play football. Our offense gives me a lot of opportunities to make big plays, and I just try to make the most out of them. I guess the playoff run caught a lot of people's attention, which is a good thing."

Johnson does not have any scholarship offers at this point, but he is already starting to notice more mail coming in from the college coaches.

"Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana – the Big 10 schools – are the ones sending the most stuff," Johnson said. "I don't have any offers yet because I've not taken the ACT. I take it in December, but I do have a 2.5 or a 2.4 gpa and I'm in the right classes. So I should be able to qualify, and that's a top priority for my grandmother, too."

And after he does you can expect the offers to start to come in. Then finally with his grandmother's approval, he might finally step out of the shadows and into the limelight like he deserves.