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Lonnie Johnson (DB Houston Texans)

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STEVE HANLON: Johnson family put West Side back on map

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Jessica Woolf, file, The Times

West Side's Lonnie Johnson, left, surprised many by staying at his home school and doing what his mother said, "Bring the scouts to you." Johnson verbally committed to play college football at Ohio State on Mother's Day.

Steve Hanlon Prep Beat

Lonnie Johnson had a tough decision in middle school. He felt like his future hung in the balance. His choice could determine it all.

Lonnie was thinking of leaving West Side and attending Merrillville. His cousin, Jonvea Johnson, had planned to stay home in Gary.

But he went to Lake Central instead.

Lonnie felt lost. Alone.

So his mother, Nora Johnson, told her son one thing.

?Work hard, do your thing and people will come to West Side to see you.?

Is it any wonder that Lonnie Johnson verbally committed to play football at Ohio State on Mother's Day?

?A lot of people have been coming to West Side, it's been blowing up,? Lonnie said. ?When my cousin went to Lake Central I didn't want to go. If the scouts weren't here I had to bring them to me.?

Johnson's football career started strangely auspiciously. Former Cougar Antonio Ellis gathered a bunch of neighborhood boys to play a little football. This block party needed a Band-Aid.

?I caught my first pass with my face,? Lonnie laughed on Thursday night.

Despite running track as a youth and Gary's first love, basketball, this football thing somehow stuck with Lonnie.

?Like a lot of kids in Gary I had basketball dreams, college and the NBA,? Lonnie said. ?I didn't get serious about football until my freshmen year. Then I saw all the coaches coming to West Side and I thought, 'Hey, this is for real.'?

He did not play offense as a freshman. But when his uncle, Jason Johnson, was named head coach, Lonnie and the returning Jonvea soon started to make some noise.

And it echoed all around the nation.

Lonnie got offers from Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Purdue and Indiana.

Jonvea's offers have come from Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Cincinnati. And his phone hasn't stopped ringing, as many track fans surely saw Friday night at the Valparaiso Regional.

Lonnie's roots are for real. His father, Lionel, played football in the Steel City. His mother, Nora (Jeter) Johnson, made it to state three times in track at West Side and was on the Cougars' 1993 semistate girls basketball team.

His parents raised him right.

"We kept him in sports because it changes your atmosphere, your life," Nora said. "It keeps him on the right path and on top of his academics. Lonnie's a good kid.

"I can drop him off at school and not worry about him skipping."

This strong home life led him to Ohio State. Johnson went to the Buckeyes' last home game last fall against a team Lonnie said he won't ever mention again.

"It's that team up north," Johnson said. "When I went to that game every 'M' had a red line through it on every sign."

cont...
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http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/colu...cle_856527d0-764a-585d-8131-eacddaae6f68.html
 
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His versatility reminds of Gareon Conley in that he can play on either side of the ball and excel. Can't wait to see how he fits into our wr depth. Especially with all the new faces from Jeff Greene to Corey smith to James Clark
 
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his strong home life led him to Ohio State. Johnson went to the Buckeyes' last home game last fall against a team Lonnie said he won't ever mention again. "It's that team up north," Johnson said. "When I went to that game every 'M' had a red line through it on every sign."
So he saw boys go into the en's restroom, or eating acaroni and cheese. He probably saw some tailgaters drinking a ai Tai.
"I'll never say that word again," Lonnie said
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Lonnie Johnson

School: West Side

Grade: Senior

Position: WR/RB

Stats: 777 rushing yards, 13 Tds, 757 receiving yards, 12 TDs

Schools recruiting me: Committed to Ohio State

Favorite college team: Ohio State

Favorite NFL team: Cowboys/Eagles

Dream job: NFL

Favorite video game: NCAA 2K

Favorite pizza place: Pizza Hut

Favorite postgame hangout: Hooters

Favorite fast food: Taco Bell

Favorite sports drink: Gatorade

Biggest inspiration: My little brother

Something people don't know about me: I'm a funny person

Are you blue-collar or suburban: Blue-collar
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GARY | This is a story Hollywood could be interested in: a young, aspiring teenage football player in a broken, urban environment decides to stay home to play high school football instead of fleeing to the bright lights and pep bands of the suburbs.

In the shadow of nothingness, the kid blows up in front of mostly empty bleachers and receives an offer from one of America's best college football programs. He accepts.

The critics of West Side senior Lonnie Johnson could be heard chirping when the 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver stayed home. When he verbally committed to Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer this summer, Johnson was the one with the smile on his face.

"I thought about going to Merrillville," Johnson said, "but my mom told me to work hard, do my thing and I would bring the scouts to Gary. And I did."

But this is where the storybook turns. Two of Johnson's best friends were shot and killed in July.

"One got it in the heart, the other in the head," Johnson said in the middle of July. "I've been to two funerals this week. I can't wait to get out of here."

This is what football coaches in Gary face. A cold, staunch reality that blows through northern Lake County every autumn.
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http://www.nwitimes.com/high-school...cle_b08bad47-bcbc-5126-be65-d650830917df.html
 
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But this is where the storybook turns. Two of Johnson's best friends were shot and killed in July.

"One got it in the heart, the other in the head," Johnson said in the middle of July. "I've been to two funerals this week. I can't wait to get out of here."
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Prayers for Lonnie and his best friends' families. That's terrible.
 
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Stories like this remind how silly it is for some us to say man I would never do that, or good grieve don't these kids understand <insert whatever>. The fact is no they may not, or because of how they were brought up have a complete different view of how things work.

I am willing to bet there are tons of stories like this all over the college football landscape, in fact I bet there are some coaches who post on this board who could share similar things.

Best of luck Mr. Johnson. Stay safe and take advantage of every gift, priveledge, and opportunity that awaits you in Columbus.
 
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