Texas Tech University Athletics
Mammoth of a Man
September 29, 2007 | Football
Sept. 29, 2007
By: Grant Vandever, Texas Tech Media Relations
It has been the road less traveled for Jake Johnson. Most fans assume that the starters on their favorite team are all on scholarship, but for Johnson that was not the case. The 6-foot-7 369 pound junior transfer from Blinn Community College is a walkon for this year's team.
After helping Blinn College to a perfect 12-0 record and a NJCAA National Championship, Johnson decided to walk on at Texas Tech. That is not to say no one was interested in him, however.
"Troy offered me (a scholarship), along with New Mexico State and the University of New Mexico," said Johnson. "But I wanted to stay in Texas and play for a BCS caliber team."
Coming into the season, most walkons are just looking to make the team. Johnson had something more in mind.
"I wanted to come in and contribute."
His contribution has clearly been felt. Johnson has been part of one of the best offensive lines in the country, not to mention one of the biggest. Tech's offensive line averages 6-feet-6 and 336 pounds. The line, as a whole, has only surrendered four sacks. This is even more remarkable when seeing that Tech has attempted 297 passes to this point in the season. Broken down, Johnson and his teammates are allowing just one sack once every 74 pass attempts right now.
Despite his size Johnson has not always been big man on campus, in fact he is not even mentioned in this year's media guide. When he came to camp he was not immediately thrown into the starting lineup, he needed to spend some time working on his fundamentals.
"The largest obstacle for me during camp was really working on my footwork and technique."
If the trend continues, and Tech quarterbacks spend more and more time on there feet, instead of on their backs, Johnson will not be the only person glad he stayed in the Lone Star state.
