It didn’t take Johnson long to make a name for himself, both at the college and nationally. In his first season for the Cardinals, he led the nation in both rushing and scoring, which earned him first-team All-America honors at halfback.

Johnson went on to play two years at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce), where he was a two-year starter and was named small college all-state both seasons.

The spotlight would be back on Johnson once he began his career as a successful high school coach. He served 12 years as athletic director/head football coach at Lake Highlands, where he claimed the Class 5A state championship with a 15-0 record in 1981.  His first squad in 1975 went 13-0-1. In all, he led Lake Highlands to three playoff appearances.

His father, Cecil Johnson, served as the Cardinals’ head football coach for two years in 1949-50.