The Aynor native has started more career games than any other player in school history. Johnson has started every game over the past four seasons, 48 in a row. Pretty heady stuff for a guy that redshirted his first season.
“It’s just an ironman,” Elliott said. “He comes out there and gets his job done. He does what he needs to do. He works his tail off. He’s a dependable guy. You can’t say enough about what he brings to our football program. He’s a solid individual. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
Johnson’s work has not gone unnoticed. He is a Rimington Award candidate, has been named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and earned second-team honors on Phil Steele’s Midseason All-America Team.
Despite the accolades, Johnson is not in a great mood. “As a senior and a leader, you have to go to guys one-on-one sometimes and talk them through things,” Johnson said. “I know what we’re struggling with as a unit and I’m trying to work with guys. We need to put the past two games behind us. We still have four games left. We have a lot of football still to play.” “This is an important week. It’s time to see what we’re made of,” Johnson said.
Regardless of how Johnson’s career ends, he can take satisfaction that he was part of a senior class that might have made South Carolina a relevant program on the national level for years to come.
“I absolutely take pride in the direction this program has taken,” Johnson said. “We’re still not there yet but we’re working on that. That’s something we as players have to do. But it’s definitely a fun time to be a Gamecock, it definitely is.”
“It’s just an ironman,” Elliott said. “He comes out there and gets his job done. He does what he needs to do. He works his tail off. He’s a dependable guy. You can’t say enough about what he brings to our football program. He’s a solid individual. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
Johnson’s work has not gone unnoticed. He is a Rimington Award candidate, has been named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and earned second-team honors on Phil Steele’s Midseason All-America Team.
Despite the accolades, Johnson is not in a great mood. “As a senior and a leader, you have to go to guys one-on-one sometimes and talk them through things,” Johnson said. “I know what we’re struggling with as a unit and I’m trying to work with guys. We need to put the past two games behind us. We still have four games left. We have a lot of football still to play.” “This is an important week. It’s time to see what we’re made of,” Johnson said.
Regardless of how Johnson’s career ends, he can take satisfaction that he was part of a senior class that might have made South Carolina a relevant program on the national level for years to come.
“I absolutely take pride in the direction this program has taken,” Johnson said. “We’re still not there yet but we’re working on that. That’s something we as players have to do. But it’s definitely a fun time to be a Gamecock, it definitely is.”