Introduction by Lee Brecheen
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| Brandon Johnson, Parkview Baptist (photo property of Louisiana Football Magazine) |
May 13, 2011 - I’ve seen some really good Fullbacks in my time over 20 years, that had size and power, like Tommy Banks (6-0, 245 pounds) from West Monroe, Jerald Sowell (6-0, 220 pounds) from Baker High School, Jamie Spencer (6-0, 250 pounds) from Ouachita High School, Roosevelt Potts (6-0, 240 pounds) from Rayville High School, and Leo Able (6-2, 225 pounds) from Catholic High School to name just a few. There’s another one I would like to add to the list, and this kids name is Brandon Johnson (6-0, 235 pounds) from Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge.
Brandon Johnson has power and quickness you see in a Running Back, blocks with power, can catch the football out of the backfield, and can break long runs like a 190-pound Running Back. This is a kid that has all the intangibles to be special in college. To me he’s the best Fullback right now for the next level for college coming out of Louisiana in 2012 class, and I think he would have been the best coming out in 2010 and in 2009 classes. Brandon has played as a starter since his sophomore season, which is unheard of for a kid at Parkview Baptist, which always has plenty of Running Backs to carry the ball in the Junior and Senior Classes. He’s the best runner I’ve seen with power, size, and college potential to play at Parkview Baptist in the 20 years. To me what makes a Fullback special for college is a kid that’s not only big, and powerful, but has the quick feet of a Running Back, and can break runs at the next level. Brandon is not just a big, powerful kid; he’s athletic with quick feet and breaks runs that show he’s versatile for a big time college. I could see this kid playing in a one back set running the football for many college programs one day, at 225 to 230 pounds in weight.
Sometimes you have to take a double take to see he’s over 230 pounds by the way he runs in the open field. Usually the first player will never tackle him. If he tries, Brandon will ether run over and flatten the poor kid or whoever gets in his way, or he’ll go outside for nice runs like a quick Running Back.
If I could compare Brandon to one great player I saw in high school it would be Tommy Banks of West Monroe in build, power and quickness as a runner, but Brandon is more swift with his hips and faster than Tommy Banks at this stage going into his senior season. The only difference is Tommy carried the ball 25 to 30 times a game for West Monroe, while Brandon shares the ball with three other Running Backs in their offense. So you will not see Brandon get the ball 20 to 25 times a game, as he doesn’t have to, to stay fresh. Brandon will play some defense for the first time in his varsity years in certain situations for the team in 2011 because he’s so powerful and so athletic which helps the team out. He’s similar to Kenny Hillard from Patterson last year, who played Defensive End and Running Back in 2010.
The biggest sleeper gift this kid has is he can punt for a 42-yard average or above as the teams starting Punter, and he punted over a 41-yard average in 2010. He has a powerful leg with great hang time for a big guy over 230 pounds. Brandon has over a 3.0 GPA in the classroom and over a 21 ACT score for college. Brandon can run the forty in the high 4.6 range, which is moving for a big kid. I think he can run even faster than that in college.
Brandon squats easily over 400 pounds, and if you saw him run you can tell those legs are always moving and very powerful to grab onto if you’re a Defensive Back trying to bring him down. If Brandon can master his blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield for his senior season he could end up being one of the top Fullbacks in the United States. He does those two well, and he will destroy people at times while blocking, but he could dominate in that area his senior season. He has good hands, he just needs to show that this season. Off the field he’s a very quiet good kid that comes from a great family, but on the field he’s a big time, tough nosed, and powerful football player.
I hope you enjoy the interview below by Taylor Williams.
Interview by Taylor Williams
LAFM: Are you originally from Louisiana?
BJ: Born and raised.
LAFM: And when did you start playing football?
BJ: When I was in fifth grade; I kinda got a late start.
LAFM: What would you say has always been your favorite part of the game?
BJ: Just running the ball and blocking, it starts and ends with the running game.
LAFM: As a player, what’s been your biggest strength throughout your career, and what are working most to improve?
BJ: My biggest strength is usually just hitting the hole hard, being explosive, and running with everything I have on each play. What I need to work on is mainly just getting in good condition for this year- good conditioning to the point where I can go all out through the fourth quarter.
LAFM: How do you feel about playing close to home?
BJ: Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that a lot and I’d actually really like to stay and go to college in my hometown.
LAFM: So you grew up an LSU fan?
BJ: Yes sir, my whole life, Saints too.
LAFM: So besides LSU, your top choice, what other schools are you realistically interested in?
BJ: Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.
LAFM: And have you been to any camps yet?
BJ: I haven’t been to any yet, but I’m definitely going to the LSU and Mississippi State invited me to one so I’ll probably go to that.
LAFM: Do you see yourself sticking with fullback at the next level?
BJ: Yes sir. I can play tight end but I think I’ll end up a fullback.
LAFM: Not that you’re expected to know at this point, but have thought about a major?
BJ: I was thinking about mechanical engineering, but I’m really not sure about that any more.
LAFM: Talk a little bit about where your team stands right now, and what some personal and collective goals are for next season.
BJ: Our team, right now, we’re in good shape. We’ve been conditioning and working out after school already so we’re pumped for next year. We’re just gonna work as hard as we did last year to get back to the Dome and win another one.
LAFM: What’s it been like playing for your head coach?
BJ: He’s helped me a lot and I love playing for him. He understands a ton about football and teaches me basic stuff about football, just to run my hardest and never give up on any plays.
LAFM: Can you specify a couple games or rivalries that stand out as memorable at this point in your career?
BJ: The Redemptorist game every year, that’s our biggest rival although they moved down to 2A this year. And then playing Notre Dame last year in the semi-finals was a really good game too.
LAFM: You mentioned your coach teaching you a lot about football, but has it been part of your home life too?
BJ: No, not really actually, my dad, grandpa, and uncle had always played baseball, so I’m pretty much the first one in my family to play football [at the college level].
LAFM: Do you still play baseball, or any other sports?
BJ: I quit baseball in eighth grade to focus on football. My dad still wants me to play to this day, but right now I just throw javelin for track.
LAFM: And finally, what are your current height, weight, and forty time?
BJ: 6 feet, 235 pounds, and 4.6.
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