South Pittsburg’s Demetric JohnsonDynamite Dozen
No. 9 Demetric JohnsonSouth PIttsburg• Running back/receiver/defensive back• Schools recruiting: MTSU, UTC, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, South Alabama• Why do you wear 2?”I wore number 4 since pee-wee, but Coach [Vic] Grider gave me number 2 when I got to the varsity. I thought about changing back but decided I would just stick with 2.”
With more than 2,500 career rushing yards, more than 1,000 receiving yards and having helped South Pittsburg reach the Class 1A state championship football game each of the last three seasons, Demetric Johnson has accomplished much already. But he has just one goal for his senior year.
“I just want to stay healthy for a change,” Johnson said. “If I can do that, I’m really eager to see what I can do with a whole season.”
Last fall was expected to be Johnson’s breakout season. He was moved from receiver to running back to get the ball in his hands more often, but a series of injuries that included a separated shoulder and a high ankle sprain caused him to miss four games. He finally returned healthy for the playoffs and ran for more than 100 yards in all five postseason games, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry to finish with 1,400 yards for the season. He had six postseason touchdowns covering more than 20 yards.
After attending several college camps this summer, and being consistently timed in 4.47 seconds for the 40-yard dash, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Johnson’s athletic ability is drawing recruiting interest from Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, South Alabama and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is rated the area’s No. 9 prospect in this year’s Dynamite Dozen.