Coming out of high school, Jody Johnson didn’t even think he was going to come to college.

Instead, Johnson is now the Big Sky Indoor Champion in the 55 meters and the 200. As of last weekend, he had one of the top three time in the country outdoor in the 200. Not to mention he has been a starting cornerback for the football team since he arrived at Sacramento State.

Johnson originally grew up in Long Beach and went to high school in Corona.

A big reason Johnson came to Sac State was because other schools recruiting for football wanted him to redshirt or return kicks because he was a little over 5 feet and 145 pounds. He realized he would get an opportunity to play at Sac State, and it was still close to home.

Johnson was actually kicked out of school his first semester at Sac State. His old football coach, Steve Mooshagian, had faith in him to do the right thing and to handle his business, so Mooshagian held a scholarship for him.

“My mind was just in a different place when I first came to Sac State. I was out here running around enjoying life, I just realized I had to grow up real quick. Coach really believed in me, and gave me a second chance,” Johnson said.

Johnson credits much of his success and inspiration to his family. He said his family kept him out of trouble while many others he knew were locked up. He said its close-knit circle and support helped him keep his head straight.

“I got some experience, I bumped my head a couple times, it made me appreciate what I got. Growing up tough can make you appreciate everything you have,” Johnson said. “I’ve got little brothers and sisters that look up to me, I can’t be out here messing up.”

Johnson lives by a philosophy to do everything at his best, never be satisfied and work toward excellence. Even after his victory in the Big Sky, he was disappointed in himself because he didn’t make the NCAA championships.

“If you’re not the best, there is always someone better than you. That’s what you have to work for,” Johnson said.

In lieu of his achievements on the field and track, he still plays basketball and is an avid golfer, his favorite sport. When he has some free time during the week, Johnson heads over to Rancho Cordova and plays a quick nine for eight bucks.

“You can’t go to those good courses, you’ve got to go to the cheap ones and get your practice in,” Johnson said. “I try to play as much as possible.”

The friendly rivalry that has developed this year between junior sprinter Raphael McFarlane and Johnson has helped both of them to improve their times and continually push each other.

“They’re both naturally competitive,” said Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Kathleen Raske. “They both want to be the best at what they do. They don’t want to get beat. It is a great situation for them to practice in and for them to develop mental toughness and handle competitiveness.”

At the Hornet Invite, Johnson squeaked by McFarlane in the 100 meter dash by one tenth of a second. At the Causeway Classic, McFarlane edged Johnson by a tenth of a second. The constant need to push each other has helped both of them to execute at their full potential.

“We definitely keep each other competitive. Every day you’ve got to out-work the other person. We’re going to give each other the best competition; we’re both good sidekicks to each other,” Johnson said.

McFarlane said he agrees that the competitive spirit of Johnson has helped him improve as well.

“We both have the same goal to win regionals. When we get placed in the same heat, you know you’ve got to run fast next to him,” McFarlane said.

McFarlane says Johnson has a quick block start, and that has helped him improve his own.

“We have really competitive attitudes. I think I was starting to lose that a little bit, and he has helped me get that back,” McFarlane said. “We race for Jamba Juice, so he owes me one.”

Johnson hasn’t run track since his junior year in high school, so everything he has accomplished is still a work in progress. He likes the outdoor season because it’s longer and the indoor seemed more like a warm-up to the current season, Johnson said.

Raske stressed that Johnson is learning a whole new sport. She said he has a lot to learn, but each day she can teach him something new, he can transfer that to races and competing. It won’t happen overnight, but he is a great talent and there is no telling how far he can take it.

“He is a natural track and field athlete. This is unexplored territory. He has the whole rest of the season to run and get better. He can be one of the best sprinters in the country,” said Raske.

Johnson and McFarlane are also members of the 4×100 relay team, joined by Chauncey Corbin and Jason Nelson. At the Causeway Classic, they set a new school record, breaking the one held since 1971, and qualified for regionals.

“We are trying to get this relay team to the national championships,” Raske said. “We have four high class sprinters. If we get a second faster, we should be in the finals.”

After Johnson graduates in the spring, he plans to attend law school. His goal is to be a lawyer who helps win cases against big corporations that are unjust toward minorities.

“It’s been a long time these big companies have been exploiting the little man, and that’s where minorities are at right now. I’m all about flippin’ the script, changing a little bit of those dollars and wealth. Sort of like Robin Hood, but the black version,” Johnson said.

Johnson still has a year of eligibility left for another football and track season.

For the upcoming football season, Johnson feels that new coach Marshall Sperbeck is bringing in a system of discipline that wasn’t there before. He feels that they have always had the talent, but with this new structure, it should be very beneficial toward the success of the team.

Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]