It’s not uncommon for students to switch high schools, but it is common to need an adjustment period for those students before fitting in and feeling comfortable in their new surroundings.
But Ronny Johnson apparently didn’t need any adjustment period and did more than fit right in with his new teammates and classmates. The Dexter junior has been a popular addition to not only the football team but the school – he’s one of those kids who is always smiling, always positive and always glad to be here. And Johnson is glad to be here – in Dexter.
“The other guys on the team love him and have since he first got here,” said Matt Parachek, the Dexter football team’s running backs coach. “And sometimes that’s hard when you’re the new kid. But he’s a pretty humble young man and has an infectious smile. He’s one of the most competitive players on the team and is extremely coachable. He always looks you in the eye, and you only have to correct him once. And he’s always asking questions on how he can do things better.”
When it comes to running the football, Johnson can’t do things much better than he’s already doing. Johnson is carrying the Dreadnaughts into the postseason (Friday night at Allen Park) as far as running the ball is concerned. Only a junior, he turned 159 carries into 1,304 yards rushing and a team-high 20 touchdowns. He also has 16 receptions for 330 yards and three more touchdowns.
Johnson transferred from Milan, where he played varsity football for the Big Reds as a sophomore and freshman.
“My family grew up playing and watching football so I fell in love with it really early in my childhood,” says Johnson, the son of Kim and Cory Johnson.
Johnson realized the Dexter football program was special before he even stepped on the field.
“What’s special about this Dexter team is that we have a bunch of really young guys who are playing as if they’re experienced and how everyone is committed to this team,” he said. “Our team goals are to beat Allen Park and then to win regionals, but personally I think we can get to states.”
Despite being such a young team, the Dreadnaughts have that “win now” attitude.
“Everyone is laser focused,” Johnson said. “When we started off 0-2, we knew the losses were because of our mistakes and we were all determined to get back on track like we knew we could.”
Dexter heads to Allen Park with a 6-3 record, losing to Chelsea in its last regular season game.
“The whole season has been great,” Johnson says. “How close everyone is to each other is what I think makes this team so special. My short-term goal is to win each week.”
Johnson says his longterm goal is to play in the NFL. He’s already drawing interest from Division 1 college programs and his value only increases every time he steps on the field.
“His work ethic, personality, and how hard he runs will keep him in the mix for where he plays at the next level,” says Parachek.
