When someone asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, Johnson quickly answered that he wanted to play in the NFL. When they told him he had to play in college first, he told them he already had that taken care of. He was going to be a Spartan.

At Durand Area High School, Johnson was a standout at a variety of positions. He earned three varsity football letters, led the team in tackles both his junior and senior years and earned all-conference honors.

Those accolades led to scholarship offers from various Division II schools across the state and a few smaller Division I schools, but he passed on every offer he received because he was determined to wear MSU’s green and white. Although he had an excellent prep career, even those who had seen his finest moments on the football field weren’t sure he could do it.

“I told him my honest evaluation and that was that he could be a standout Division II player and he should concentrate on that,” said Bryan Carpenter, Johnson’s football coach at Durand. “But he was dead-set on going to play Division I and he was fully geared to play at Michigan State one way or another.”

The redshirt year

Johnson’s determination paid off, as then-MSU head coach John L. Smith offered him a spot on the team as a preferred walk-on, meaning Johnson wouldn’t have to try out like other potential walk-ons.

Although he was on the team, Johnson knew he was going to get redshirted during his first year.

The biggest challenge for him that year wasn’t the mental strain in knowing he wouldn’t see the gridiron. Instead, it was the physical pounding he put himself through during workouts and practices in order to prepare for the future.

“I was in the weight room every day trying to get ready for where I’m at now,” Johnson said. “That freshman year, even though you’re getting your ass beat day in and day out, the biggest thing is you have to keep your mind focused that your time is coming.”

Although he was looking ahead, Johnson was still focused on the present. He went to work from the get-go, earning his keep on the scout team and doing his best to help his teammates prepare for the 2006 season.

His hard work was noticed, as the 5-foot-10, 173 pounder was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week the second week of the season.

Because of his efforts, Smith gave the 18-year-old an opportunity to dress against Eastern Michigan and run out of the tunnel onto the Spartan Stadium field.

“He was a pretty proud puppy and as a grandpa I thought my heart was going to break on that one,” said Arlen Laus, Johnson’s grandfather who was sitting next to him at Spartan Stadium the day he made his dream public.

“It was just a thrilling moment for me that I’ll never forget.

“I never thought I’d see a son or grandson or any child I know come out of that tunnel.”

Becoming a contributor

Johnson ran out of the tunnel in 2006 as a redshirt player who knew he wasn’t going to play. While the first time running out in front of a crowd of 70,000 was thrilling, the moment Johnson felt he had finally arrived was when he ran out for the 2007 season opener against UAB.

“Going out there for the UAB game, when I was running out, it was almost like, ‘I did it, I’m here,’” Johnson said. “I just kept at it and when I finally got out there it was like a dream. It was an absolute dream come true.”

As a redshirt freshman, Johnson traveled and dressed for every MSU game, playing in 10. The ninth week of the season against Iowa, he was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

He was finally contributing.

“He just does everything that you ask of him,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “It doesn’t matter if you send him down to scout team or if you have him up with the defense, he’s going to give you everything he’s got. He continues to work and he’s making a little bit of a name for himself.”

Now in his third season, Johnson has transformed himself into one of MSU’s top special teams players. Having added nearly 15 pounds since arriving on campus, Johnson’s role has expanded. Now, he plays on the kickoff, kick return, punt block and punt return units.

He almost got his first career highlight earlier this season when he was inches away from blocking a punt against California.

“Special teams is where it starts out,” Johnson said. “You get out there your freshman and sophomore years and work on special teams, do what you have to do and then when your junior and senior year come around you’re going to be ready.”

Looking ahead

Before arriving on campus, Johnson and his father, Marty, sat down and wrote a season-by-season list of goals he hoped to accomplish.

He planned on redshirting his first year, then earning playing time on special teams as a redshirt freshman. As a redshirt sophomore, he wanted to start on special teams, see playing time on defense and earn a scholarship. When he becomes a junior and senior, he wants to become MSU’s starting safety.

Although his goal to start may seem farfetched to some, Johnson has met all his other goals within the timetable he set for himself and expects a scholarship to come soon.

“I think I’m close to earning one, I really do,” Johnson said. “Coach said when you get on the field and start contributing a lot, that’s when you get one. I’m getting on the field more and more so I think the time’s coming.”

Every Saturday in the fall, Johnson goes to a Division 1 football stadium. He goes into the locker room, straps on his shoulder pads and puts on an MSU football jersey with his name and No. 26 stitched to the back.

By most accounts, even without a scholarship, Johnson is already living his dream, but to him, there is still more to be done.

Earning a scholarship would mean he overcame the odds. It would mean all of the hard work in the weight room during his redshirt year was worth it and all the bumps and bruises he’s accumulated throughout the years would suddenly be gone.

It would mean he’s truly accomplished his dream of becoming a Division I football player.

“The biggest thing with me is to know if I get on scholarship that I accomplished it,” Johnson said. “To say, ‘I’m a Division I football player, legitimately.’ That’s the biggest thing for me, the biggest thing with earning a scholarship is knowing I did it.”