Faith, hard work and a coachable spirit made Rashad Johnson into a standout defender at Alabama and in the professional ranks. All three qualities he learned, while attending Sulligent High School.
Johnson, a Sulligent (Ala.) alumnus, returned home Friday to host a football camp for high school students. Christina Chambers, sports reporter for WRBC news, tweeted a photo him giving back to the community. Johnson was a well-rounded athlete in four years with the Blue Devils, displaying his skills in football, basketball and track.
Rashad Johnson's football camp is underway at Sulligent High School #Alabama @WBRCnews pic.twitter.com/g0D0zi0QWg
— ChristinaChambers (@ChristinaChamb) June 17, 2016
He would walk-on at Alabama in 2004 as a running back, but made a name for himself in the secondary. In 2007, Johnson led the team in tackles (94) while adding 5.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He guided the Crimson Tide to a bowl appearance in 2007, as it defeated Colorado 30-24 in the Independence Bowl.
Johnson gave Alabama fans a clutch performance in 2008 against LSU. He tied the school’s single game record for interceptions (three), including one returned for a 54-yard touchdown.
The Tide would go on to defeat the Tigers 27-21 in overtime at Tiger Stadium, delivering it to a 10-0 record and the SEC West crown. Johnson ended the year with 89 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and five interceptions. He was a first team All-SEC defender twice in his career (2007, 2008).
After playing seven season with the Arizona Cardinals (drafted in 2009), Johnson returns to the Southeast region. He signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans on March 25, bringing him from Arizona to Nashville—which is a little over three hours north of Sulligent.
He’s totaled 345 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, four fumbles recoveries and 15 interceptions in seven seasons. Johnson is now on a team that has three other former Alabama players on the roster, including running back Derrick Henry—Alabama’s 2015 Heisman Trophy winner.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
