Freshman experience propels breakout season

[JAGc/o95]

Freshman experience propels breakout season

By Evan Mohl
The Daily News
Published November 27, 2009

FRIENDSWOOD — Mustangs coach Steve Van Meter would like to tell everyone about his great coaching move in October 2008 to promote Jonathan Johnson to varsity as a freshman.

But Van Meter refuses to lie. He called it one of the easiest decisions he’s made as a coach at Friendswood.

“The kid was tearing up freshman teams with like four or five touchdowns every game,” Van Meter said. “He didn’t need the JV experience. I mean, it was a no-brainer.”

Though Johnson played sparingly in 2008, the receiver has emerged as one of the top athletes in Galveston County, if not all of Class 4A Region III. Johnson is a sure bet for a 24-4A All-District selection as he led the league in receiving with 45 catches for 723 yards to go along with seven touchdowns.

The sophomore credits his brief experience on varsity in 2008 for his current success. While he endured the brunt of jokes and names like “Frosh,” Johnson learned what it took to compete at high level.

“That time on varsity, it opened up my eyes,” Johnson said. “I think I only played a few plays a game, if that many, but it gave me a taste of what I had to do.”

And Johnson took the lesson to heart during the summer, especially since Van Meter did not guarantee the talented receiver a starting spot in 2009.

During June and July, Johnson worked out at the school Monday through Friday. He increased his overall speed by running sideline to sideline. Then, he improved his acceleration with 40-yard dashes. Johnson finished his individual workout by running up and down the bleachers at Henry Winston Stadium and about 30 minutes in the weight room.

That wasn’t all. Johnson also worked with quarterback Pete Maetzold. They ran routes and worked on building a repertoire with each other. Johnson wanted to grasp the complex Mustang offense that depends on timing, speed, reads and hot routes.

“A lot of people worked hard over the summer,” Maetzold said. “I don’t know if anyone worked harder than J.J.”

Teammates no longer joke about Johnson’s age. He’s earned the nickname J.J. since Van Meter put Johnson in the starting lineup after the Clear Brook scrimmage.

Standing a modest 5-foot-9 and weighing 170 pounds, Johnson doesn’t look intimidating. But he’s explosive. Johnson runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash — maybe even faster now.

Johnson also is hard to bring down, making defenders miss almost as often as he gets tackled. His speed and size make him slippery.

On top of his talent, Van Meter said Johnson just knows what to do on the football field; he has a knack for the game. Van Meter actually put Johnson in at cornerback on La Marque’s final drive with Friendswood clinging to a one-point lead. Not surprisingly, he came down with an interception to seal a 27-26 win over the Cougars.

“He has an innate knowledge of what to do and where to be,” Van Meter said. “He gets football naturally and with ease.”

Which is why the Mustangs do just about anything to get him the ball, whether it’s a long fly route, a slip screen or a reverse. Sometimes, Johnson even lines up in the backfield as a running back.

“He’s just one of those guys you want to put the ball in his hands because he makes things happen,” Maetzold said. “He makes you and the team look good.”