DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Richlands' Devon Johnson doled out the hits

He rushed for 1,825 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was a skilled pass-catcher. He threw devastating stiff arms that nearly decapitated would-be tacklers.

Sure, Devon Johnson loved having the ball in his hands, but what was his favorite part of the game?

“I gotta go with defense,” the Richlands High School senior said.

Johnson was in full beast mode on D during the 2011 season and as a result was selected as the Bristol Herald Courier’s Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound specimen finished the season with 112 tackles, 34 of which occurred behind the line of scrimmage. That’s no misprint – 34 tackles for loss.

Unreal.

“When he hits the ball carrier the ball carrier always goes backward,” said Richlands coach Greg Mance. “He’s a great tackler, great in space, extremely physical. … He’s one of the best linebackers we’ve ever had here.”

The high level of play earned Johnson a scholarship to Marshall University where he’ll play linebacker for the Thundering Herd. He’ll head to Huntington, W.Va., with a trail of bruised running backs and sacked quarterbacks in his wake.

“I think every hit Devon Johnson lays on somebody is a big hit,” said Richlands lineman Josh Hess.

“Teamwork. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”

Those inspirational words are on a sign, one of many, situated in the Richlands weight room and it sums up Johnson’s mindset each Friday night.

What is the big guy’s main motivation?

“My teammates,” Johnson said. “I just think about getting a win for them and I like to see them smiling after a game. It’s just great to laugh with your team, instead of being down.”

The ups far outnumbered the downs for Johnson as Richlands went 34-4 during his three seasons suiting up for the Blue Tornado. While he made headlines, was overrun with recruiting letters and compiled gaudy statistics, Johnson remained a team-first player.

“He always gives the offensive line credit, which is what I like about him,” said Richlands center Taylor Wade.

The same praise from Johnson was also prevalent on defense.

“I had a great defensive [line] that did a pretty good job of keeping the offensive line off of me,” Johnson said. “So that opened up some holes for me to shoot and get some tackles and stuff.”

“Commitment: You’re either in or you’re out.”

That’s on another placard in the expansive Richlands fieldhouse, which could rival that of most small colleges.

For Johnson a deep commitment developed out of his initial love for the sport. He fondly recalls his formative years on the gridiron.

“Well, I started baseball first,” Johnson said. “That was my first sport. Football had an age limit and I started a year early [at 6-years-old]. My uncle was a coach for midget league then and he threw some pads on me. The first year I just played a stunt dummy. I got hit a lot. The next year after that I became more of being a fullback.

“I used to be a little chunky but I still had my speed. When I got to high school that’s when I started getting the muscle put on and everything.”

After playing his freshman season at Big Creek High School in West Virginia, Johnson transferred to Richlands. He was a bit overwhelmed with the bigger school and bigger playbook.

“It was a big difference,” Johnson said. “A way big difference. But I knew if I put my work in I knew I could do great.”

Johnson did just that, but he still had to overcome some obstacles.

In the opening game of the 2011 season, a 31-13 beatdown of Gate City, Johnson suffered a knee injury.

“I went to cut back into the end zone and the kid just kind of dropped to his knees really and I ran right into him,” Johnson said. “I saw him fall, so I thought he just fell out of the way and I went to cut and as I cut, I just felt my knee hyperextend. It was pretty scary, but I had trust in God and faith in my team and stuff that everything was going to be OK.”

The following week in a win over Union, Johnson was limited. The pain was clearly evident as Johnson was slow to get up after making some stops.

“It hurt a lot that game, but I tried to fight through it,” Johnson said. “Fight through the pain and just keep playing for my team.”

Johnson eventually got back to 100 percent, but he says that pain paled in comparison to the heartbreak he felt in July 2010 when his father, Albert, died.

“It was hard,” Johnson said. “Definitely after games when I see my other friend’s dads there for them. It was hard and nobody really knows how it feels until it happens to them. I just hope it never happens to anybody else, because it’s the worst pain you can ever go through.”

Johnson remained committed to the sport and he knows that when he signs on the dotted line next week on National Signing Day his father will be there in spirit.

“He would be very proud,” Johnson said. “I bet he’s right now in Heaven smiling down on me.”

“How do you want to be remembered?”

That’s what players see in the Richlands weight room as they lift up the metal bar with the heavy plates and go through squats.

Johnson put in his hours in the weight room and probably read the words on the walls countless times.

So how will Johnson be remembered?

Great player.

Great teammate.

Great guy.

He certainly won’t forget his time in Richlands.

“The people here are just great people and they made me feel a whole lot better my first time being here,” Johnson said. “It’s an honor to be able to play football for Richlands. When you’re out there playing on Friday and you’ve got thousands and thousands of people out there watching you play, it’s just a big honor. … I’m just glad I got the opportunity to come here and play for them.”

The running backs and quarterbacks that he terrorized could certainly vouch for Johnson’s legacy.

thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter:@Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570