JC football: Johnson commits to Idaho State

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College sophomore Eddie Johnson, an

All-Mission Conference punter, said Monday he has verbally committed to

continue his football and academic career at Idaho State.

Johnson, an All-CIF standout and three-time All-Newport-Mesa District

selection at Newport Harbor High, may sign a national letter of intent

Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.

He visited Pocatello last weekend, after making previous recruiting

visits to Portland and Arkansas State.

“When I was there over the weekend, I just felt, deep down, this was

the right place for me to go,” Johnson, who earned honorable mention on

the J.C. gridwire All-American team, said. “I liked the coaches, I liked

the town and I liked the facilities.”

Johnson said he also likes the opportunity to kick indoors at the

school’s 12,000-seat Holt Arena, and at altitude, around 5,000 feet.

Johnson averaged 39.4 yards on 58 punts last fall, helping the Pirates

earn a share of the Mission Conference Central Division crown and a berth

in the Strawberry Bowl. He had 15 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard

line and his long was 73 yards.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder also completed 5 of 8 passes for 81 yards

and two touchdowns in a backup role, though he believes his

quarterbacking days may be over.

Johnson will stay at OCC through summer school, completing work on his

associate of arts degree.

He said he plans to major in health and expressed an interest in the

school’s physical therapy and/or sports medicine programs.

“It feels good to have this opportunity,” said Johnson, whose grades

out of high school were not sufficient for a four-year college.

-- by Barry Faulkner