Hog Futures: Blake Johnson

Punter says SEC supersedes beach

Blake Johnson was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Game in January.
Blake Johnson was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Game in January.

Blake Johnson, a California boy, was always intrigued by the South and the chance to play in the SEC.

Johnson, from the Los Angeles suburb of Los Alamitos, signed with the Arkansas in February over scholarship offers from Oregon State, Duke and Colorado.

At a glance

CLASS Freshman

POSITION punter

HT./WT.6-1,190

AGE 18 (Birthday: March 8, 1997)

HOMETOWN Los Alamitos, Calif.

HIGH SCHOOL Los Alamitos

NOTEWORTHY Reported to Fayetteville on June 20. … No. 2 punter in the nation by Chris Sailer Kicking. … Will be roommates with walk-on snapper George Madden, who snapped to Johnson at Chris Sailer and Chris Rubio camp competition. … Parents are Todd and Michelle Johnson. … Father is a Long Beach homicide detective. … Honors: All-CIF Southern Section First Team at punter, California Division I All-State First Team honors from MaxPreps, Punter of the Year by OCVarsity.com, Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team first-team honors as both a junior and senior, two-time first team All-Sunset League linebacker, two-time Los Alamitos Defensive Player of the Year. … 156 tackles and 7 sacks during junior and senior seasons. … Selected Arkansas over offers from Colorado, Duke and Oregon State.

"I always watched football on TV and always noticed all the SEC schools had enormous crowds, the coolest stadiums and always the best teams," said Johnson, one of the nation's most highly sought punters. "So I was like, 'Yeah, I would love to go play in the South to experience that lifestyle.' "

Special teams quality control graduate assistant Tanner Burns first contacted Johnson, 6-1, 190, in the spring of last year and eventually Johnson started talking to defensive line and specialists coach Rory Segrest.

Playing in the SEC for a school in the South didn't seal the deal.

"That was definitely a huge lure for me, but after doing research on it, that's when my major interest started showing up for Arkansas," he said.

A trip to Fayetteville for an Arkansas football camp last summer, with parents Todd and Michelle, was the clincher.

Johnson impressed Segrest and Coach Bret Bielema enough to receive a scholarship offer.

The southern hospitality the Johnsons received during their visit added to the experience.

"The biggest thing I noticed are how nice people are," Johnson said. "Not that people in California aren't nice, but people here in California are just so fast paced on what they're going to do next. I guess they don't take the time to care about other people, if that makes sense."

Johnson played linebacker, safety and receiver in high school, along with his duties as punter, and he did well on the field. He was first team All-Sunset league at linebacker and was a two-time Los Alamitos Defensive Player of the Year, as well as receiving honors at punter.

He recorded 72 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries,1 recovered fumble, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup as a senior.

"Obviously, I played a bunch of positions," Johnson said. "So not only did I not have a fresh leg, my head was anywhere and everywhere thinking about offense, defense, this call, that call."

Chris Sailer Kicking rated Johnson as the nation's No. 2 punting prospect, and Johnson played in the U.S. Army All-American game in January. He averaged 37.1 yards on 28 punts while downing 12 inside 20 as a senior in high school.

Johnson said concentrating on punting will help keep his leg fresher, allowing him to add distance, something he experienced in the U.S. Army game.

"My first punt was 55 yards," he said. "I think the transition for me will be much better."

Segrest said he is anxious to see Johnson compete for the starting job with Toby Baker.

"He's just athletic all around and I think he'll do a great job in coming in and competing," Segrest said

Johnson said Segrest's philosophy is similar to what he experienced in high school.

"He loves the traditional-style kicker, which I am," Johnson said. "It's a good fit."

Other colleges backed off, Johnson said, after he committed to the Hogs last July.

"I made it pretty clear to all the other schools that was where I was going," Johnson said. "I wasn't going to change my mind, so I think they got it."

Todd Johnson, Blake's father, is a Long Beach homicide detective and said he and his wife approved of their son's choice.

"Michelle and I really liked Fayetteville and Arkansas and thought it was great fit for Blake," Todd Johnson said. "The coaching staff made a great impression on us."

But Blake Johnson said reaction in Los Alamitos, which is about 11 miles north of Huntington Beach, was mixed.

"It went one of two ways," Johnson said. "They were either really stoked and they completely understood why and they were really happy for me, or, they were like, 'Arkansas? What's in Arkansas? Are you kidding me? Why would you go there?.'

"I just said you just have to give it a chance and trust me. You know me, I wouldn't be going somewhere there's nothing. Arkansas is popping, believe me."

But Johnson said he will miss his family and many other things.

"I'm definitely going to miss the beach, a lot," Johnson said. "I'm going to miss the dry heat. As weird as that sounds, I'm not used to the humidity yet, but I'm sure I'll adapt.

"I'll miss all my friends, but other than that I'm ready to start a new chapter."

Sports on 06/30/2015

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