Jaymar Johnson helps inspire Gary Pop Warner
StoryDiscussionFont Size: Default font size Larger font size BY AL HAMNIK
ahamnik@nwitimes.com219.933.4154 | Sunday, July 13, 2008 | No comments posted.
GARY | Jaymar Johnson sat alone at the head table, looking a bit sheepish, as fans of all ages crowded into a stuffy little room at the Hudson-Campbell Sports & Fitness Center on Saturday morning.
At Johnson's feet were several large Pop Warner football championship trophies worthy of any showcase.
It was a homecoming of sorts for the 2003 Wirt grad and explosive Jackson State wide receiver, a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in last April's NFL draft.
"He's opening the door right now for a lot of our younger players," said Richard Ligon, vice-president of the Gary Steelers Pop Warner, who then chuckled: "We know once he signs that big contract ... we need a football field. I don't want a Corvette; we just want our own field."
Later, Johnson and several coaches held a football clinic down in the arena. It was his gift to the youngsters.
"Jaymar's been good all his life," league president Richard Woods said. "I'm glad he's finally getting recognized for that."
The way "Double-J" views it, he's been surrounded by "guardian angels" since he was old enough to walk. His parents, grandparents and an aunt all lived within three homes of each other in their Miller neighborhood. His wife of two years, the former Kassy Howell, lived "just around the block."
Of Jaymar's five brothers and two sisters, older sibling James was a self-appointed mentor.
"That's my little brother. One of my obligations, as big brother, is to make sure little brother is all right and that he does the things needed to succeed," said James, who starred at running back for the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
"I consider myself real blessed and fortunate to make it in the NFL," said Jaymar, who overcame a club foot at birth. "Above everything, I wanted to come back and help the kids, whatever way I can, whether or not I got drafted.
"Growing up, the only persons I really had to look up to were my coaches and my brother, so I want to be the same kind of role model."
At 6-foot, 176 pounds, Johnson has always had to prove himself -- and thank goodness for James.
"The more and more my brother did, the more and more I wanted to be better than him," Jaymar said. "That actually drove me throughout Pop Warner, middle school, high school and my whole college career. I wanted to beat everything he did. However many touchdowns he had, I had to have two more than he did."
Those daily challenges will pick up, considerably, when Jaymar reports to the Vikings' training camp July 23.
"I'm looking to go in and fight for a job -- and playing time as well," he said.
Minnesota needs help just about everywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Unproven Tarvaris Jackson finished with a 70.8 quarterback rating last season and a mere nine touchdown passes. Only one receiver had more than 600 yards.
At Jackson State, Johnson used his 4.42 speed to catch 36 passes for 613 yards and seven TDs his senior season, also returning kickoffs and punts.
Saturday, he wore his Vikings T-shirt as proudly as the Purple Heart.
"I have no reason to be jealous," said James Johnson, regardless of what strangers may think. "If he succeeds, I feel I succeed just as well because I showed him the right path on how to get there."
FOOTBALL
Jaymar Johnson
6-foot, 176 pounds
Wide receiver
Had 66 receptions for 1,140 yards and 9 TDs over last two seasons at Jackson State.
Also returned two punts for scores.
Member of 2002 Times all-area second team.
As a prep senior at Wirt, had 55 receptions for 873 yards and 19 total TDs.