Charles Johnson, a senior at King George University, didn’t mince his words when talking about the upcoming football season.
The Foxes just reached the semi-finals of VHSL Class 4 last season and have produced a wealth of talent from a strong graduating class, but that hasn’t changed the mindset of one of this season’s team leaders.
“I’m just ready to prove a lot of people wrong,” Johnson said. “… A lot of people think we’re not the same team anymore, and that’s why this season is even more exciting for me. It’s my senior year and it’s the year we get to prove people wrong.”
This program has a chip on its shoulder as it heads into its season opener at Brooke Point on Thursday, and Johnson is at the forefront of that attack.
Johnson is entering his fourth season as a starter and is a threat at both linebacker and running back. He first showed how good he can be last fall when he was named the Battlefield District’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
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“He’s one of the smartest football players we’ve ever had,” King George’s head coach Vern Lunsford said. “He’s a constant learner and an extremely hard worker. … He can call the shots for us on defense and set us up on offense. He’s just an outstanding leader.”
As Johnson’s leadership has grown at King George, so has his role on the team, as he has gone from being the primary defensive player as a freshman to one of the district’s most efficient two-way players.
That number will only increase this season as record-breaking wide receivers Mekhai White and Chanz Wiggins have graduated, creating a sizable hole on offense that he will look to fill.
“It’s been fun,” Johnson said. “Last year I was used primarily as a running back, but this year I’ve been used more in the passing and running game. I’ve just learned a lot of new things, new strategies, and overall developed as an offensive player.”
For Lunsford, it has been a fun journey to document Johnson’s development as a leader, from his days as a freshman finding his way on the field to his successes during his sophomore season.
This development does not happen overnight, but it is bearing fruit as his experience and success on the field have increased.
“I think he was a tremendous leader last year, too,” Lunsford said. “He got his first experience as a freshman. He took off on defense as a sophomore. He led the defense the last two years and now he’s leading the whole program. … We’re going to try to use him a lot. He’s going to make me look smarter than I am.”
Johnson’s performance has brought him the attention of college programs, with offers from Maryland, Old Dominion, James Madison, West Virginia and others.
“It was interesting and I learned a lot,” Johnson said. “My defensive coordinator (Cody Goode) really put me in a great position with these college coaches. When they ask me questions, I know almost everything.”
His college recruitment, his past success at the high school level and the work he’s put in during the offseason all lead up to the start of his final season on Thursday.
A King George program that hasn’t lost a single regular season game since the 2019 season is suddenly an underdog in the eyes of some observers. Johnson’s mentality, like that of his teammates, is to silence the critics and get the job done after not performing well last season.
“I’ve been thinking about the past since my freshman year,” Johnson said. “I’ve been on the same field with the same coaching staff and some of the same players. … It’s just so surreal to think that we’ve played football for this program for four years and this is our last first game. I’m really excited for us to show what we can do.”