Johnson duo pushed by brotherly shove
COLLEGE STATION — A chunk of Jake Johnson’s memories of growing up with big brother Max involved indoor basketball — the kind using an actual door in the home.
“He was always competitive, even something like playing mini-hoop basketball, you were always shoving each other and beating each other up,” Jake recalled with a grin.
The main shove Jake remembers from Max, however, is a consistent one propelling him into athletic achievement, with the duo now teammates at Texas A&M nearly two decades after their early tussles began.
“It’s always been competitive between us, and he’s always going to push me to be the best player I can become,” Jake said. “And me as well to him.”
Max Johnson is A&M’S new starting quarterback following a season-ending foot injury to Conner Weigman, and younger brother Jake Johnson has quickly developed into one of both quarterbacks’ favorite targets. Jake’s first touchdown reception in college, too, was an extra memorable one because of its family ties.
“The first thing I said to him was, ‘I love you, man,’ ” Max said of the immediate aftermath of a 22-yard touchdown pass and catch between the brothers in the third quarter of the Aggies’ 27-10 victory over Auburn last weekend in the teams’ SEC opener at Kyle Field. “That it had been a long time coming, and that was pretty special.”
Max is two years older than Jake, and the last time they had hooked up for a touchdown came in a state title game back in their home state of Georgia, when Max was a senior in high school and Jake was a sophomore four years ago at Oconee County High in Athens, Ga.
“That was the last real high school memory we had together, so that was special, but this is probably a little more (special) because it’s the first one in college,” Jake said.
The brothers are sons of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson and his wife, Nikki, a former record-setting college volleyball player at South Florida in the late 1980s. Nikki is the sister of former Georgia coach Mark Richt, as the sports ties run deep in the Johnson family.
“We’re both really competitive,” Jake said when asked who was the most driven between him and Max.
He added with a grin of his mother’s volleyball prowess at South Florida, “I’d say we probably got it from her.”
Brad won a Super Bowl two decades ago as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback, however, and Max said his dad has done an exceptional job over the years of tutoring him to play the position.
“I talk to him all the time, and he’s done a really good job of saying don’t get too high or too low, just take it one day at a time and make the players around you be the best they can be,” Max said. “Lead by example and then also lead vocally in earning your players’ respect.
“I love my dad, and he’s done a great job of not just coaching me how to throw the ball, but just how to be a quarterback.”
Max transferred to A&M from LSU prior to last season, and he said transferring again did not cross his mind after Weigman won the starting job in August camp. Plus, it helped that his brother was along for the ride with the Aggies.
“This is where I want to be,” Max said. “I’ll get an awesome degree here, and I love the coaches, I love the players and I love the university. This is where I want to be.”
Max, who redshirted as a junior last season after playing in only four games because of injury, also in the offseason took advantage of the NCAA not counting the 2020 season toward eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is classified as a sophomore this year — just like his younger brother.
Jake (6-6, 240 pounds) has stepped up at tight end this season in the absence of Donovan
Green, who had a season-ending knee injury during camp in August. Jake is one of four Aggies in double digits in catches four games into the season and the only tight end among the bunch, and with A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) facing Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.
“Jake can get vertical,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said of the tight end’s myriad skills. “He has unbelievable ball skills and knowledge of the game.”
Max described his brother as a “stud” in playing football.
“Ever since high school he’s been a grinder,” Max said. “He’s battled some injuries throughout his high school and college career, and I give him all the credit. He’s gained about 15 pounds and he’s done a really good job blocking. He’s also a great route runner and catcher as well.”
Max (6-6, 230) is scheduled to make his first start of the season against the Razorbacks and following the injury to Weigman in the first half of the Aggies’ double-digit victory over Auburn.
Max threw two third quarter touchdowns against the Tigers in popping open a 6-3 A&M lead at halftime, the first one to his brother along the left sideline and the second to standout receiver Evan Stewart over the middle for a 37-yard score, in giving the Aggies some breathing room in their league opener.
“He’s honestly the toughest competitor who’s ever been a part of my life,” Jake said of Max. “He leads the team well and has the respect of the players, and he’s going to go out and compete and give it his all every game.”