From special teams to special leader

FB: After paying his dues, Johnson has elevated to the role of defensive captain

If the dozens of Valparaiso freshmen football players that joined the roster this fall are looking for a role model, it’s hard to pick a better option than Mark Johnson.

The Valparaiso junior arrived on campus two years ago as one of the smallest players on the roster. The Nashville native was one of seven true freshmen in the secondary that season and there were another six redshirt freshmen.

Johnson faced an uphill battle to get noticed by the coaching staff, let alone see any playing time. He took the challenge and ran with it, and now two years later and a freshly-anointed captain, Johnson has plenty of advice for the newcomers.