Athlete of the Week: Eric Johnson

By Sharon Lin

JULIA TIERNAN/YH

Where is Number 21 on the field? At 6'3" and 230 pounds, Eric Maxwell Johnson, JE '01, is probably not hiding among the cheerleaders, but this utility man can be found in practically all other positions. "I was a receiver for the last few games," he said. "In most situations, I sub in for the tailback or fullback, and sometimes I have gone in for the fullback or halfback and go in the motions. I run out to the side and into the pass pattern." An all-around athlete, Johnson captained the football, basketball, and volleyball teams as a senior at Needham High School and was noted by USA Today as one of the top players in Massachusetts.

In the first half of the Holy Cross game on Parents' Weekend, Sat., Oct. 10, Johnson again led the team with five catches for 46 yards before an injury kept him out of it. The Bulldogs went on to win 15-7, their first home victory since 1996. Johnson returned to play in the 28-21 win over Cornell on Sat., Nov. 7, and along with wide receiver Jake Borden, JE '00, led the Elis with five catches each.

After standout kicker Mike Murawcyzk, MC '01, pulled his groin, rookie Clark Mercer, MC '02, struggled in the punting position. When a rehabilitated Murawcyzk opted to concentrate on field goals, head football coach Jack Siedlecki turned to Johnson to fulfill punting duties. "After the Princeton game, the coaches came to me and told me to be ready for Harvard," Johnson said. "I had punted in high school and last year helped out by kicking to returners in practice." Due to the anemic performance of the Yale offense in The Game, Johnson's services were greatly needed. He punted 11 times for an average of 36.5 yards per punt. After a shaky start, Johnson soon mastered his duties. "The wind was really tough when my back was to the horseshoe, and the drop would move before it hit my foot. I had to concentrate on getting a hold on the ball," he said.

Punting was not the only way Johnson contributed to the 9-7 Game win. He also tackled the Harvard player who intercepted one of quarterback Joe Wal-land's, TD '00, passes. "We both ran out," he recalled. But after seeing the Cantab catch the ball, Johnson quick-ly switched to defensive mode. "I just turned around and I ran him out the side," he said.

Johnson made another key play in dfensive mode when he batted away a near-interception from a Crimson cornerback in the fourth quarter. "That was probably my best play," he said. "I really leaped forward and knocked it down." Johnson enjoyed playing in enemy territory. "I had 20 relatives there," he said. "It was good to beat Harvard."

Recently, Johnson was honored as a GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District I Football player. Currently boasting a 3.6 GPA, Johnson is an American Studies major. "It's a broad major and I can do a lot--sociology, English, and poli sci," he explained. As he has repeatedly demonstrated, Johnson can also do a lot on the football field.

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