Devante Johnson said that it’s “fun to be the man.”
No, the senior mighty mite at Mesa Ridge in Colorado Springs isn’t talking trash or seeking attention. It’s not in his constitution.
The 5-foot-7, 170-pounder merely revels in the fact that he toils in and combines the classic, tough-guy positions of running back and linebacker for the Class 4A Grizzlies.
A native of Chicago and the son of a soldier, he heads into Week 7 as Colorado’s leading rusher. He has piled up 1,265 yards, 9.6 per carry, with a season-high 389 against Liberty in Week 2. He singed Pueblo South for 276 and had 206 last week in a tough 27-20 loss to rival Widefield. Johnson also has found the end zone 13 times.
“He’s our horse, and we all know that, so we try to feed him,” Grizzlies coach Rob Braaten said.
Denver-area followers could compare Johnson to Cameron McDondle as a slightly smaller version of the Columbine all-stater, complete with great balance, significant strength from the waist down with the power to run over defenders as well as the quickness to run past them.
In short, and no pun intended, he’s a powerfully low plug who’s best brought down by the ankles.
“I was talking to (a game official) and he told his crew, ‘Don’t quick- whistle this kid,’ ” Braaten said. “When people say that, it’s special. He’s the kind of kid who shows up and you’re happy.”
Johnson, who credits Grizzlies linemen every chance he gets, said he’s “feeling good and doing what I can, doing my best on the field.”
As Braaten admits, it took Johnson awhile to get there. And Braaten partly blames himself. Johnson, who didn’t play organized ball until the seventh grade, wasn’t a regular option into 2010 and was behind Phillip Rhodes, who motored for more than 5,000 yards over three years.
“Obviously, I was screwing it up, not giving (Devante) more touches,” Braaten said.
But Johnson was patient, establishing himself as a linebacker and stopper. Now, Braaten must balance how much defense Johnson can play. He needs the speedster’s offense first, but it’s difficult to pass on his ability to run to the ball.
Well-rounded, Johnson finished runner-up the past season at 4A 160 pounds in wrestling and has dabbled in track’s sprints. He’ll pass on running this spring in order to prepare for college football.
With a 3.1 grade-point average, the aspiring electrical engineer wouldn’t mind landing at Colorado Mines.
“I’m just trying to balance everything,” Johnson said.
Footnotes.
• Shane Callahan, Chaparral’s high-end offensive tackle, .
• Longtime Heritage assistant coach Ray Barron is conspicuous on the sideline in that he wears shorts during all degrees of inclement weather. He insists it’s because he’s a former rugby player and his legs don’t get cold. Passion? His former Eagles wrestlers recently got together and sent him to a few rounds of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
• Sam Landrum, a former Marine who coached multiple sports on the prep level in a career that ran from 1950-98, including as an assistant in football at Hotchkiss, Otero Junior College and La Junta, .
