The Arkansas Leader

Tenacity leads to successFree Access

NLRHS nose tackle may not have typical size, but effort has gained D1 eyes.


There has been a lot of turnover in the football staff at North Little Rock High School the last few years, but for senior defensive lineman Braxton Johnson, the third head coach of his high-school career is a perfect fit. Johnson and new head coach Randy Sandefur are two peas in a pod. All coaches talk about teamwork, camaraderie and doing things the right way. Sandefur lives it, and he says Johnson exemplifies his standard of what a football player and young man are supposed to be.
“Let me tell you right now about Braxton Johnson,” began Sandefur. “He’s everything a coach wants. He does it right. He gets his grades. He’s respectful. He works as hard as anybody. He’s focused. He’s a leader. He’s a great athlete and one heck of a football player. The big major schools may not be after him because they say he’s not tall enough. Well, that’s fine if that’s what they say. But I’m telling you, they’re missing out.”
Johnson has played for Sandefur for two years, and he’s excited his former defensive coordinator has taken over the program.
“I think it’s great,” said Johnson. “He brings a ton of energy but he’s always focused. It’s the right kind of energy we need around this program right now. Especially with the new installs that we’re doing and all that. He’s simplified things, honestly. He lets us fly around on defense and be athletes.”
Braxton Allen Lance Johnson is the son of Roderick and Charmane Johnson. Sandefur, who makes it a point of emphasis to be involved with his players even away from the field, knows who to credit for Braxton’s work ethic.
“Over the years he may have let a grade or two slip, but it never lasts long because mom and dad don’t let it,” Sandefur said.
Braxton understands that as well.
“I just try to model after them because they have it together,” the nose guard said of his parents. “They’re the ones that have instilled that in me that grades come first and to always give your best. And they didn’t just tell me that. They live it and I just get it from them.”
Johnson is a three-year starter on defense, but he wasn’t the leader of the unit. Last year that job belonged to linebacker Jordan Owens, who is now playing in college. This year, he has taken on that role.
“Somebody has to lead,” Johnson said. “I kind of knew when JoJo left, we were going to need that leader and it was probably going to have to be me. So really from day one of offseason I try to let it be known if we were having a bad day so we could try to fix it.
“But I’ll say this about this team, we don’t have bad days as far as effort. The effort is always there and that’s what I love about this team. When we’re having a bad day it’s usually a lack of focus and not doing the little things. But in order to attain the big things you have to take care of the little things. So we try to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
While Johnson is the vocal leader, he’s just one of a whole unit of outstanding defensive linemen. Several defensive backs return from a strong defense. The only question mark is replacing players like Owens at linebacker. But Johnson is overflowing with confidence in the entire defense.
He says it doesn’t matter what kind of offense they’re going against. They will stop it.
“However you want to lose is fine with me,” Johnson said. “Whether you want to lose running it or if you want to lose throwing it, it makes no difference to me. We have an attitude that we don’t want to give up anything – no points, no first downs. We want to make you say you don’t want to touch a football anymore.”
Johnson plays with that kind of tenacity. That’s why, despite being considered too short by most major programs, he has garnered at least one Division I scholarship offer from UT-Martin.
That’s my only D1 offer right now, but I plan on taking football as far as I can take it. I don’t want to be just a number on the team. I want to be where I’m wanted and where I can get playing time. Just give me a shot and I can take it from there. All I need is one chance and I can prove myself to you.”
Away from the field, football remains a large point of focus. He gets his grades because he wants to keep playing, and he is already academically qualified for NCAA football. He doesn’t know yet what kind of degree he wants to pursue, but he says he does find himself more interested in history than other subjects.
“My mama just asked me what I wanted to study and I really don’t know,” Johnson said. “Honestly, my life revolves around football right now,” Johnson said. “If I’m not practicing, I’m working out. If I’m not doing that I’m relaxing and just trying to let my body recover. I like to hang out with my teammates. Those guys are like my second family. When I’m alone watching TV or something, I catch myself looking at the history channel. History is kind of interesting to me. They say if you don’t know history, you’re doomed to repeat it, so I’m interested in stuff like that.”
Johnson was able to pinpoint one other motivating factor for his tireless work ethic, and that’s God. He regularly attends Bethel AME in North Little Rock, where his grandfather is the pastor.
“Faith has been a big deal since I was young,” Johnson said. “I would like to say it’s a big part of my life. It’s played a role in my focus. The way I see it, God gifted me with this ability, why short it? Why not put my all into it? It’s a gift from God, you know.”

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