Clint Thompson
THOMASVILLE — In 2006, a neck injury nearly ended Jermaine Johnson’s football career.
Three years later, the former Thomasville High School standout is an all-star and on the brink of playing Division I football.
Johnson, a sophomore at Northeast Mississippi Community College, will play in today’s Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-Star Football Classic.
“It’s a good feeling,” Johnson said. “I feel real good. I feel like my football career is finally getting to a point where I like it.”
Johnson was a defensive force for the Tigers this year at linebacker. The 220-pounder finished with 65 tackles, including 45 solo stops. Johnson also tallied 4.5 sacks. He was one of five players from Northeast Mississippi selected to play in today’s event, which will showcase 66 of the state’s best players. The game will be played at 1 p.m. at Kennum Stadium in Booneville, Miss.
“He is very resilient,” Thomasville coach Richie Marsh said. “We’re very proud of what he’s done.”
Resiliency appropriately describes Johnson, who has overcome so much. In Thomasville’s seventh game of the season against Mitchell County in 2006, Johnson made a jarring hit on an Eagles receiver. Johnson never got up. He was diagnosed with a neck injury and sidelined the rest of the year.
“I had a big doubt that I was ever going to play again,” Johnson admitted. “But the coaches at Thomasville High and the players just stuck with me and stayed by my side and kept me going.”
Johnson returned in May 2007 for spring practice and was an integral part of the Bulldogs’ run to the quarterfinal round of the Class AA playoffs despite nursing an ankle injury the first part of the year. Johnson has been at Northeast Mississippi for two years.
Johnson’s play on defense this year has attracted many Division I schools as National Signing Day is two months away. Johnson said he is being recruited by Oklahoma State, South Carolina and Middle Tennessee.
“It’s very fulfilling,” Johnson said. “Everything’s looking on the good side for now.”
