Navy senior Corey Johnson has gone from being the starting point guard on the Midshipmen?s basketball team to no longer being on the team ? and he couldn?t be happier.
Johnson hadn?t played football since his final season at Highland High School in Anderson, Ind. But that didn?t dissuade the 6-foot-2, 192-pounder from pursuing his dream of playing college football which he?s living by chasing kickoffs on special teams and patrolling the secondary as a safety.
“I wanted to do both football and basketball when I came here and it turned out I couldn?t,” said Johnson, who averaged 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season. “I just didn?t want to graduate from here regretting anything, and wishing I played football and didn?t. We recruit a lot of athletes here, and I feel like I?m a pretty good athlete who can play where the coaches need me.”
One of the biggest adjustments for Johnson was the football conditioning program. For the past three years, he was accustomed to improving his stamina, but football training revolves around quick bursts of power and speed.
However, Johnson said he didn?t have to prepare for the physical contact of football, as his body took a pounding when he guarded bigger players near the basket.
“I got beat up pretty good in basketball trying to go in there with the big players trying to play hard, so that aspect wasn?t difficult for me,” Johnson said. “You?re going to get hit in football, and you?re going to get hit hard in basketball.”
Navy coach Paul Johnson said he?s been pleased with Corey Johnson?s effort after not playing the game for nearly three years. He displayed some of his athleticism last month in a preseason scrimmage when he recorded 10 tackles, which he said gave him confidence for the season. Johnson played on special teams against Temple and Rutgers, but has yet to make a tackle.
“Corey?s worked really hard,” Paul Johnson said. “I don?t know if anybody has worked any harder than Corey. Hopefully, he can get out there and do some things. It would be good for him. I know he?s excited.”
One of the overriding factors for Corey Johnson?s decision to play football was the program?s success the past four years. Navy?s basketball team has not posted a winning season since 2001.
Corey Johnson is excited about playing in front of more than 30,000 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The men?s basketball team generally plays before a crowd of a few thousand at Alumni Hall. Johnson will play in his first home football game on Saturday when the Midshipmen (1-1) face Ball State (1-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
“It?s definitely going to be a new experience for me playing in front of that many people,” Johnson said. “As an athlete you?re always taught to block those things out. But I know it?s going to be harder with that many fans.”
