JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Thomas Johnson begged to play football. Finally, by his junior year at Campbell High, his parents gave in.
“I didn’t want him to play football. But it turned out that he’s pretty good at it,” said his mother Carolyn Johnson. Good enough to take his kicking and punting skills on to the collegiate level at NCAA Division III Maryville College is Thomas.
Pre-season soccer is underway for Thomas, a sport he’s played since he was four years old. “I don’t think I ever realized how dangerous a sport soccer is to play until I saw him in his football pads,” Carolyn added.
Johnson faced a couple of injuries his senior football season that hampered him and forced him to miss three games. A groin tear in the summer and a concussion in the Karns game kept Johnson on the mend since the end of the football campaign. “Thomas depended on his faith a lot to get him through those (injuries),” said his mom. Off season rest and lifting weights have been his routine until soccer started back up.\
“Signing Days are dream-come-true days,” said Campbell Head Coach Justin Price. “These days are also a good time to reflect,” he noted.
“God’s plan for Thomas was tossed around a lot by the whole family on whether he would play college football, and every time it appeared that door was closing, God was there opening it up again. Then a coach in Knoxville helped Thomas through his injuries, and Maryville contacted him. Not to mention his friend Joseph Paul, who played a big role in Thomas playing football, will be a teammate at MC,” said Carolyn.
Price, himself, and twin Matt, starred at Maryville College; something Price thinks Johnson will do. Price was the starting quarterback at MC his last two seasons. “Thomas is no where near his potential yet as a kicker. His work on and off the field has been successful,” said the coach of the Cougars.
Thomas’s father Dustin was beaming with pride at Thursday’s signing. “He did it all on his own. I’m really proud of the school he chose,” said Dustin.
Carolyn adds, “The soccer definitely helped get him where he is today, but I have definitely enjoyed being a football mom the last two years as well. I can’t wait to cheer him on as a Maryville Scot. I am so proud of him.”
The begging is long over, and it’s on to play for the Fighting Scots of Maryville College now for Number 37, Thomas Johnson. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/26/2021-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S JOSH PARKER)