Transfer within rules, so Johnson good to go
He then finished with 17 yards on five carries Friday in a 33-7 second-round loss at Lakeland Victory Christian.
“He wasn’t going to play, but we looked at the bylaws and saw he was able to, so we figured why not?” D.J.’s dad, Donnell Johnson, said in a phone interview with the Sentinel.
“It wasn’t something we planned. When he got there, it was just an opportunity for him to continue the season.”
East Ridge, which competes in Class 8A, was without Johnson during a 14-8 loss versus Groveland South Lake in Week 11 and again in a 49-24 bowl-game loss against Tohopekaliga. The Knights finished with a 5-6 record.
Johnson was added to Orangewood Christian’s MaxPreps roster on Nov. 8.
Orangewood athletic director David Pitts acknowledged Friday that he was in contact with the FHSAA last week regarding Johnson’s
eligibility. Pitts asked that all questions about the matter be directed to the association.
The FHSAA declined multiple requests for clarification on the transfer policy and how that factored into Johnson’s eligibility. The Orlando Sentinel submitted a public records request late Monday.
“Please be advised that we are not inclined to answer questions about individual student-athletes nor their eligibility,” stated FHSAA associate executive director Jamie Rohrer in an email Tuesday.
“It was easy for us to send him back [to Orangewood] when we moved based on the familiarity there, and it just so happened they were playing in the playoffs,” Donnell Johnson said.
“We did all the homework and were really diligent about that because we don’t want to jeopardize anything for our son or for Orangewood.
“When you have something to hide, that’s when you go into hiding. My son has nothing to hide.”