Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – When describing the role he envisioned for Eddie Johnson Solon coach Lucas Stanton didn’t say a position but rather a phrase that he felt best fit the versatile senior two-way standout.

“He’s a football player,” Stanton said of Johnson. “That’s probably the best way to describe, Eddie.”

The description from Stanton is simple but a perfect summation of Johnson who has lined up across the field on both offense and defense over the past two seasons.

Johnson showed his versatility while living up to his football player tag in Solon’s season opener on Friday.

One of just five returning starters for the Spartans this season, Johnson had a big game in week one, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown and adding a sack in a 33-7 win over Davenport Assumption.

“We knew we had lost a lot from last year but that just gave us a chip on our shoulder,” Johnson said. “We know what we have on our team.”

Johnson will be a big part of the game plan for Solon on both sides of the ball this season.

Last season Johnson rushed for 378 yards and six touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 258 yards and three scores while lining up at tight end and fullback.

In his first career starter at running back Johnson rushed for 120 yards on 13 carries on Friday and added a reception for 27 yards.

“The great thing about him is he will line up anywhere we ask him to,” Stanton said of Johnson.  “He played a different position last year on offense for the betterment of the team. We are going to put him in the backfield this year but the best thing about him is you can line him up anywhere.”

Following his strong junior season a year ago Johnson did what most players do, he spent the offseason working on getting bigger and strong.

However, Johnson also focused on developing his leadership after Solon lost a large senior class to graduation from a team that went 10-2 and advanced to the 3A semifinals last fall.

“I’ve gotten a little faster, I’ve put on some more muscle and I’ve really tried to be more of a leader and be more vocal,” Johnsons said. “Last year I kind of was in moments but it needs to be when things are tough that I’m a leader because that’s really what brings teams up.”

That work has already showed up on the field.

In addition to his offensive production in the season opener Johnson was impressive on defense.

He logged three tackles, including two solo stops and a sack from his defensive end spot as Solon limited Assumption to seven points and 186 total yards.

“He’s a great defensive end,” Stanton said. “He could be a great linebacker too but for the needs of our team he does a really good job there.”

It was a strong start for what should be a big senior season for Johnson and another success campaign for the Spartans.

“We feel good about our team,” Johnson said. “There is always room for improvement but we did a lot of good things and we know what this group is capable of.”

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