High School Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

John Tyler quarterback Jeremy Johnson anticipates the next year being a wild ride.The fun started recently when Johnson gave a non-binding oral commitment to saddle up for the Mustangs and attend Southern Methodist University.

The fun started recently when Johnson gave a non-binding oral commitment to saddle up for the Mustangs and attend Southern Methodist University.

Johnson attended SMU's camp for juniors in March and jumped at the chance to commit when the offer hit the table.

"I wanted to go to SMU even before they offered," Johnson said. "A week or two later they sent the scholarship."

The junior quarterback, listed at 6-0, 170 with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, figures to slide to wideout at the next level.

SMU went 1-11 and 0-8 in Conference USA last year. The Ponies produced an average of nearly 273 yards passing per game, numbers which impressed Johnson.

"I like the school," said Johnson, who has also received interest from Houston and Rice. "I like the offense and they throw it a lot. I'll play wherever they want me to be."

In his first full year as starting quarterback, Johnson engineered JT to a five-win improvement. JT advanced to the area round of the playoffs, falling to Richardson Lake Highlands 28-27.

Johnson made two highlight-reel plays down the stretch as JT rallied to try and tie the game before falling one-point short. Johnson turned a keeper on fourth-and-6 into a 67-yard gain and later scrambled and changed directions while throwing a TD to a sliding receiver to pull JT within a point.

He finished the area playoff game 15 of 19 passing for 135 yards and two touchdowns and added 12 carries for 88 yards. For the season, Johnson rushed for 896 yards and nine TDs and completed 117 of 221 passes for 1,141 yards, 10 TDs and eight interceptions.

Johnson's commitment gives JT two already, along with blue-chip defensive Ashton Dorsey (Texas).

The two lead JT into the Blue-White game next Thursday at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

(Jeremy Johnson)