Backup full of praise for LB Johnson
Jan Johnson has stood in Ellis Brooks’ path since last season at Penn State, so Brooks might be the last person expected to throw bouquets at Johnson.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Brooks, a redshirt sophomore, spent almost 2½ minutes Wednesday praising Johnson, the former Gov. Mifflin standout.
“Jan Johnson has made me such a better football player,” Brooks said. “I really don’t think people understand the effect he has on this team, or how technically and fundamentally sound he is. It’s kind of like the ongoing joke that we have in the linebacker room: Jan can do no wrong.”
Johnson, a fifth-year senior, has been the Nittany Lions’ starting middle linebacker since the 2018 season opener against Appalachian State. He finished second on the team in tackles last season with 72, behind freshman Micah Parsons.
Brooks arrived at Penn State in 2017 as a four-star prospect from Mechanicsville, Va., and a close family friend of former Lions quarterback Michael Robinson. He was redshirted that year before playing
in every game last season as a reserve, behind Johnson.
“Playing the same position, me and Jan compete in everything we do,” Brooks said. “So, having to up my game, I have to attack every single day and every single drill the way Jan does. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons for his success.
“It’s the way he prepares himself, his attention to detail and the way he watches film. Other than Coach Pry (defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Brent Pry), Jan is really intuitive when it comes to those things. I try to sit down and pick up cues from him. I ask him what he’s thinking on certain plays.”
Johnson and Brooks split playing time in the seasonopening 79-7 rout of Idaho, Johnson making two tackles and Brooks three. They figure to do the same the rest of the season.
“My growth as a football player and as a man, I can look back in some way, shape or form to something that he showed me,” Brooks said. “When I came here, I thought it was all about making plays and it’s not. (Johnson showed him) it’s about playing within the framework, how to run the defense and how to be a better Mike linebacker.
“I definitely feel like he taught me a lot. He helped me grow tremendously as a player. I know he’s going to have a great year for us and I’m excited to watch him play.”
Celebrating perfection: James Franklin was starring at quarterback for East Stroudsburg in 1994.
At the same time about 160 miles to the west, former Wilson standout Kerry Collins was quarterbacking Penn State to a its first Big Ten championship, a Rose Bowl win and a 12-0 season.
“I had an awareness of what was going on here,” said Franklin, now the Nittany Lions coach. “What they were able to do was obviously very, very impressive.”
Penn State’s 1994 team will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend and will be recognized during the Lions’ non-conference game against Buffalo Saturday night at 7:30 at Beaver Stadium (TV-FOX; WEEUAM/830).
“Part of our players’ education is not only what they learn in the classroom and in this community, but also the historical impact of Penn State football,” Franklin said. “They’re a part of that now.” OWEH IMPRESSES >> Penn State redshirt freshman defensive end Jayson Oweh continues to receive rave reviews from his teammates about his athletic ability.
“I remember we were lifting,” Brooks recalled. “Everybody knows he and Micah (Parsons) go back and forth. Everybody thought they were done testing. Both hit PR’s (personal records). Out of nowhere, Jayson grabs the bar and lifts it. That was when I was most impressed with him.”