Nick Johnson, a 2007 San Lorenzo Valley High graduate and two-year starter on the Cabrillo College football team, signed a full-ride scholarship this week to play wide receiver for Division II Henderson State University.
The 6-foot, 187-pound receiver starred for Cabrillo College for two seasons after spending a year at California State University, Sacramento, on a track and field scholarship. He will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., and start school in January, with two years of eligibility remaining.
“It’s definitely been my dream since I started playing football in high school to keep playing,” Johnson said.
Several other schools showed interest in Johnson, including Southeast Missouri State, where Taylor West, another former Cougar and Seahawk, plays.
But Henderson was the only school to make Johnson an offer of a full ride, and he sealed the deal Wednesday, Dec. 16.
“I was always praying doors to be opened and closed, because I knew God had a plan for me,” Johnson said.
He visited the campus over the weekend and met with coaches who offered to pay for his full tuition, housing costs, fees and — the kicker — even his books.
“The only thing I have to pay for is a $1,000 meal plan,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Henderson coaches expect him to start at outside receiver, a position he became accustomed to at Cabrillo.
In two seasons as a Seahawk, Johnson recorded 64 receptions for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2009, he averaged 16.3 yards per catch with help from receivers coach Brian Davilla, a former San Lorenzo Valley, Cabrillo and Oregon State University receiver.
“He was an absolute pleasure to have come to our program,” Cabrillo head coach Bill Garrison said. “He bought in and jumped right in. He prepared very well for this.”
Besides his natural speed — Johnson ran a 4.4-second 40-meter dash — he takes a powerful work ethic with him to Henderson State, Garrison said.
“That young man has a smile on his face every day, and that’s contagious.”
Several other area athletes who played at Cabrillo have also transferred to play football at four-year colleges.
Matt Miller, a receiver from Scotts Valley High, transferred from Cabrillo to Weber State University, where he played during the 2009 campaign; SLV product West is at Southeast Missouri State; Harlan Prather played for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2009; former Cougar Darren McGinnis plays for Azusa Pacific University; and Ian McGinnis, a 2008 SLV grad, might play for Azusa Pacific or Sterling College next fall, Johnson said.
