Johnson taken in 6th round

Barry Faulkner

Eddie Johnson, who earned All-American honors in two seasons as a

punter at Idaho State University after starring at Newport Harbor

High and Orange Coast College, was selected in the sixth round by the

Minnesota Vikings in the NFL Draft Sunday.

Johnson, who grew up in Costa Mesa, averaged 46.3 yards on 100

punts over two seasons at Idaho State, which led the nation in net

punting during both of Johnson’s seasons. Johnson could not be

reached for comment Sunday.

A 6-foot-3, 232-pounder, who also saw spot duty at quarterback at

OCC an Newport Harbor, was the 180th overall selection in the

seven-round draft that began Saturday and concluded Sunday in New

York.

A two-time first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection in

Pocatello, Johnson was a second-team All-American choice by The NFL

Draft Report last fall. As a junior, he was named first-team

All-American on both the Associated Press and Walter Camp teams. He

led the nation with a 46.3-yard average as a junior.

News of Johnson’s selection was celebrated by Newport Harbor High

football coach Jeff Brinkley.

“It’s really exciting and I’m happy for Eddie,” Brinkley said. “As

he matured and grew older, he really dedicated himself to his punting

and was on a mission.

Brinkley said that potential may have been apparent to others,

before it was to Johnson himself.

“I thought that the way he punted the ball in high school, he

could one day be a pro,” Brinkley said. Brinkley said Johnson’s

maturity, both on the field and off, has allowed helped his NFL

dreams.

“A lot of his success has been due to the work he has done on his

own,” Brinkley said. “A lot of guys have potential, but he was one

who realized it and did the things necessary to take advantage of

it.”

Johnson, the first Newport-Mesa prep product to be selected in the

NFL draft since former Corona del Mar linebacker Jerrott Willard was

a fifth-round pick by the Chiefs out of UC Berkeley in 1995, was

among only two punters drafted this year. Mike Scifres from Western

Illinois was taken in the fifth round (149th overall) by San Diego.

Johnson will likely be handed the starting job with the Vikings,

for whom Kyle Richardson punted last season after signing one-year,

free-agent contract.

Nick Murphy, who did not play last season, and is currently

punting in NFL Europe, is the only punting specialist listed on the

Vikings roster on the team’s Web site.