’28 LB looks to get more action at RB as the season progresses
We labelled him “the best MS football player in Kentucky” little more than a year ago. Friday night, Bryson “Mr. B” Johnson, from Perry County Central, showed us (albeit in defeat) that our analysis was “money.” The 5’10,” 185-pounder was phenomenal against Somerset although Somerset came out on top on the scoreboard (48-7). We will go through “Mr. B’s” performance in this article.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball
There aren’t too many freshmen who played on Friday night across Kentucky at a position of defensive importance like linebacker. Assuming there were some; we would wager they weren’t playing for a 4A football team.
Even if we are wrong about a freshman linebacker cracking the lineup on his first Friday night under the lights, we still would bet he didn’t lead the team in tackles. However, should he have; we would finally wager the “other freshman LBers” didn’t registered 16-tackles in their openers.
We could go on for days playing this game. We feel the point has been fairly made. Bryson Johnson, from Perry County Central, is special.
How special is he? Well, his head football coach has some thoughts on the topic.
“Bryson is a true fighter,” Mark Dixon told our magazine when reached for comment about the play of his young LB. “Bryson finished the game with 16-tackles and has no quit in him.”
Dixon continued, “Bryson Johnson is a true football player. I truly enjoy coaching him. Johnson will help us a lot of ways this coming season.”
Bryson Johnson is a true football player…
Mark Dixon, Head Football Coach, Perry County Central
That true football player comment is particularly strong. In the world of high school football, there is no finer complement.
High school coaches tend to be a bit understated. Mark Dixon would number among the more understated of that unique fraternity.
Still, Dixon’s words ring effusive in the praise of his young defender. That is, particularly considering the source of the commentary.
Bryson Johnson is a 5’10,” 185-pound LB who has slimmed down (purposefully) from his 190-pound starting point. Johnson pulls 425, squats 410, and bench presses 230. Johnson’s offensive position is at RB/FB, so he runs quite well.
We provided the above weight lifting numbers to accentuate the point that a kid doesn’t just walk out on a football field and commence domination. There is a lot of work required. Johnson has done the work.
Johnson registered 1.5-TFLs, together with his 16-total stops on Friday night. We talked to a source of ours in the area and he told us the plan was to get Johnson some JV reps at FB/RB to work Johnson into the offense game plan as the season progresses.
Johnson carried it twice in the opener, gaining 17-yards. Coach Dixon could use some more of that to go along with his defensive prowess.
Perry County had a rough go of it Friday night in Somerset. There is no rest for the weary as Perry County will travel to The Riverbank to play Breathitt this coming Friday night. The Bobcats are coming off a tough loss to Belfry on Pond Creek.
Both teams need a win. Both teams boast fine, young talent.
Perry County will have one thing the Bobcats won’t when the whistle blows in Jackson, KY. The Commodores will have the KHSAA’s best linebacker patrolling its defensive second level in the ’28 graduating class.
That’s a plus. Thank God for small favors.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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