Before Saturday, My-King Johnson had managed to lay low for six months.
Itβs not that Johnson disliked the attention; itβs that, like all would-be college freshmen, he was content to be seen and not heard.
So the defensive end turned down interview requests from ESPN and CBS Sports, among others. He moved to Tucson, began working out with his teammates and became employee No. 59 for an Arizona Wildcats program looking to become relevant again following a 3-9 season.
βIt wasnβt like I was trying to keep anything low-key, but it was just like β interview, interview, letβs talk,β Johnson said. βI was like, βI havenβt even played a game, I havenβt even practiced. It was like, you guys are asking me all these questions and I havenβt even had a chance to play Division I football.β
βThatβs why, after the interview in February, I just stopped talking, because it was like, Iβm still in high school.β
Johnson made headlines for becoming the first active Division I scholarship football player to say he was gay. At the time, Johnson β a Phoenix native and product of Tempe High School β told the Star he anticipated having a βtargetβ on his back.
Johnsonβs new teammates have been overwhelmingly supportive. Defensive lineman Kurtis Brown, Johnsonβs roommate and best friend on the team, was the first to message Johnson back in February.
He told him not to worry about anything, that the rest of the players had his back.
βI said βyouβre here to play football, and weβre here to kick some butt,ββ Brown said.
Johnson appreciates the support, but says he doesnβt necessarily need it. There are bigger things to worry about.
βI was just like, you donβt even need to say that,β Johnson said. βIβm sorry but Iβm not here for you to all be my best buddies. Iβm here to make a name for myself, build my brand and do the best I can. Iβm like, with or without your support, Iβm going to do what I have to do.β
Luca Bruno is a senior defensive lineman, one of the teamβs most eccentric personalities and a team leader. Bruno sees it the same way β they all support him, but they support everyone. Johnson is another player, another teammate, competing for playing time on Saturdays.
βHeβs a freshman and heβs trying to prove himself,β Bruno said. βSomebody said this to me recently, I forget who, but I hope theyβre talking about him more when heβs leaving then when he was coming in. I have a lot of high hopes for him, along with all the other freshmen. I have a lot of high hopes and I can tell theyβre all hungry to play. Not only βKingβ β all these guys are hungry to play.β
Johnson is hungry in another way, too. The 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pounder must put on weight if he hopes to see the field. Itβs one of the reasons why Johnson is a likely redshirt candidate, even though the Wildcats are in dire need of impact players on defense.
βI gotta keep him up with me in the meal line,β defensive ends coach Brian Knorr said.
UA coach Rich Rodriguez called Johnson βa talented guyβ who needs to get bigger and stronger.
Johnson used his natural strength an athleticism to overpower opponents in high school. As a senior, he managed 22Ζ sacks, including 6Ζ in one game. Johnsonβs pass-rushing ability is what helped him secure scholarship offers from UA, ASU, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Texas A&M. He verbally committed to UCLA, then signed with the UA.
When Johnson moved into Arizona for the summer, nerves set in, the anxiety was overwhelming. Johnson said he lost 10 pounds while dealing with the stresses of school and football.
βI wasnβt eating. It was bad,β he said. βBut Iβm fine now. Now Iβm just focused on getting bigger, faster, stronger.β
Johnson isnβt shying away from his role as a trailblazer, either. He understands the role heβs playing as an openly gay college football player. Kansas State offensive lineman Scott Frantz came out in July, becoming the second player β behind Johnson β to make headlines.
βThe aftermath is still happening. My social status has definitely moved up,β Johnson said, laughing. βIt just happens. Thereβs just people talking about me now. I donβt think itβs going to go away any time soon.
βI love being an inspiration,β he added. βI love being the change, so I definitely donβt have a problem with that.β
