GREENLAND — Evan Johnson didn’t bother pushing a car tire across a field like some football players have been known to do during their offseason workouts.
Instead, he went with the entire Jeep.
Along with sprinting up a hill, Johnson worked on strengthening his legs over the summer by having his father put a “nasty” 2005 Jeep in neutral and pushing it close to a mile down the street. It was all part of a demanding workout created by his father to get Greenland’s slot receiver ready for his senior season.
Profile
EVAN JOHNSON
School: Greenland
Class: Senior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Notable: A team captain and three-year starter on both sides of the ball, Johnson has made plays as a slot receiver and free safety. ... Has played through a left shoulder injury suffered earlier in the season. ... Also plays on Greenland’s basketball team.
“I know that I line up next to some of the fastest kids on our team in sprints,” Johnson said. “And that first 10, 15 yards they’re always playing catch up.”
Johnson pushed the Jeep three times a week over the summer, and the results were evident last Friday in Greenland’s 40-0 win over Mountain View. The 6-foot, 165-pound senior scored the Pirates’ second touchdown of the first quarter when he leaped over a defender and into the end zone, capping a 5-yard run.
Johnson does practically everything for Greenland, starting on offense and defense. He also plays on special teams, meaning he never steps off the field during the game.
Johnson finished with a team-high four catches for 91 yards to go along with his four carries for seven yards and a touchdown in the win over Mountain View. As Greenland’s free safety, he also helped the team record its second shutout of the season by holding the Yellowjackets to just 115 yards of total offense.
“He is a Friday night player. When the lights come on, Evan looks to make the big plays. He wants to make the big plays,” Greenland coach Lee Larkan said of Johnson, who also plays on the school’s basketball team.
“If it’s three seconds in a game and he’s playing basketball, he wants to take the shot. He’s not afraid to take the shot. He’s kind of a prime-time player.”
Johnson said he considered himself more of a defensive player in the past, but this season he has played a significant role offensively for Greenland (4-2, 3-0 3A-1 Conference), which is off Friday because its game with Marshall was canceled.
A shoulder injury has affected Johnson’s ability to be a more physical safety. He said he injured his left shoulder when he got hit by a middle linebacker while running a route right before halftime in Greenland’s 37-14 loss to Mansfield on Sept. 7.
“It’s a mental thing, I think. I’m not as aggressive on the defensive side of the ball,” said Johnson, who also serves as a team captain. “It’s one of those where it kind of frustrates me and kind of makes me want to do that much more on the offensive side of the ball to help the team.”
Johnson admitted he had trouble with dropping passes at times last season, so he worked on being more consistent in the offseason. He watched how Arkansas’ players worked in practice on catching the football, and he focused on keeping his eyes on the ball when it was thrown his way.
Larkan saw proof of that late last month when Johnson stretched out in the middle of the field and reeled in a one-handed catch against Yellville-Summit. Larkan called the catch “unbelievable.”
“His hands have gotten a lot better,” Larkan said. “His junior and sophomore years his hands weren’t the best, and it was mainly a concentration thing. This year he has kind of been the guy to come up with all the big catches.”
It’s been as easy as pushing a Jeep.