KFDM COOP Posted October 11, 2007 Report Posted October 11, 2007 No senior letdowns, no losses to PN-G for Dogs' DravanntiBy Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND — Dravannti Johnson has never lost to Port Neches-Groves. He doesn't know the feeling. He doesn't plan to discover the feeling now either. The first University of Texas football pledge from Nederland in decades, the 6-2, 225-pound defensive end may find all sorts of ways to paint the Indians purple on this Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.Dravannti may block a punt. Dravannti may run from his left end spot clear across the field when Josh Wright may try to run away from him. Dravannti may gobble up Harrison Tatum for dinner midway in the second quarter. Dravannti might retreat into coverage and intercept a pass. Heck, he might even catch a pass for the offensive unit.Whatever his role in the 84th Mid-County Madness confrontation, Johnson does not particularly give a flying Indian. He just wants the Nederland side of the scoreboard to have at least one more point than PN-G's side of the board.That approach has worked five out of five times this year for Johnson, who has preferred to focus more on Nederland's unbeaten record than on any personal attainment."My main concentration has been on the team and on trying to stay undefeated," Johnson said.If the thought of senioritis ever crossed the minds of any Nederland fans about Dravannti's 2007 season performance level, Dravannti can guarantee senioritis never has trotted across his mind.Oh yes, when a guy pledges with A&M and then UT in the off-season, it leads to the question of a possible letdown. This rangy three-year standout just has refused to allow any part of it to sneak into his gameplan.His mentor, advisor and friend, Nederland head coach Larry Neumann, was the first to admit a concern about that letdown during the summer and prior to the season. Neumann confessed such a concern in his office on Wednesday afternoon."We have had some frank conversations and he's a mature young man," the Nederland head coach said. "I think the normal thinking when you make an early major college commitment like that is you worry how it might affect the mental preparation for each game. It was a concern of mine on whether it was going to go to his head."To his credit, he's having the kind of senior year that I would hope that he would have."So far, that would include 39 tackles, 26 first contacts, four sacks, four hurries and one fumble recovery for a touchdown... among other things. But DJ never ever entertained the idea of a letdown in his mind. That's just not DJ."No, that's not who I am," Johnson said. "That's not what I do. I'm going to play hard no matter what."When Johnson examines his senior year, he's really not so sure that he's the best player on Nederland's defense, either. His best friend, middle linebacker Chris Gutierrez, deserves that accolade in Dravannti's mind.
jake94 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Posted October 11, 2007 I don't think we have one best defensive player. I really think that we have 3... DJ, Gutierrez, and Wareall.
tvc184 Posted October 12, 2007 Report Posted October 12, 2007 I don't think we have one best defensive player. I really think that we have 3... DJ, Gutierrez, and Wareall.That is up on the line. There are other good ones in the secondary.
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