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Getting a scholarship to play college football is tough. There are only 85 scholarships available for each Division I team, and there are over 1.5 million high school players. The odds of getting a scholarship are less than 1%. Springwood’s Greg Johnson has been working to increase his odds this summer. 

Johnson transferred to Springwood from Opelika before school started last year. He came looking for an opportunity, and Springwood gave him that opportunity. 

Since transferring, Johnson has become a star power forward for Springwood’s basketball team and a star defensive end and tight end for the Wildcats on the gridiron. 

Going to college has always been a dream for Johnson. He is going into his senior year, and this summer has been an important juncture for his development. Johnson has worked hard to get more eyes on him, attending two camps and three campus visits. 

“With me coming to Springwood, I wanted to get a better chance to get a scholarship to college so I wouldn’t have to pay,” Johnson said. 

Johnson does not necessarily have a preference between playing football or basketball at the next level. He loves both sports and he would go to college to play the sport that gave him the best opportunity. 

The attention of college football coaches has come as Johnson has attended more and more events at college fields, but he has gained more than just attention. Johnson has learned from every coach and camp. 

“You always have to have the effort,” Johnson said about the camps. “You’ve got to not go to the finish line but through it. It’s more of just a competitive spirit. Everybody is trying to go for one goal. It’s very competitive.” 

Johnson is vying for college scholarships, and he is far from alone in the process. CJ Johnson is just a year younger than Greg and transferred to Springwood at the same. CJ is a star point guard and running back for the Wildcats. 

Few athletes get to share these experiences with a sibling. Greg and CJ have shared every moment together to this point. Colleges usually end up separating sibling athletes. Greg would love to play alongside CJ, but the two are not necessarily a package deal with them being a year apart. 

“It’s been fun. When you hear about my brother or you hear about me, it’s always about both of us,” Greg said. “Everywhere we go, it’s something about the Johnson brothers. I feel like me and him do a good job of just showing out. Having the same last name, we want to make our name proud.” 

Johnson was part of a team that went to a state championship last season before injuries derailed their chances in the championship game. He comes into this season hoping to rectify that loss and hold up the trophy later in the fall. 

“State championship, I want to win,” Johnson said. “I feel like we have a good team, even though we’re young. I feel like the people we have coming back should really help.” 

Johnson came to Springwood as a junior and immediately made an impact. As a senior, he will be expected to step up and be the team’s leader on both sides of the ball. 

Vocal abilities are not necessarily Johnson’s main focus as a leader, but he is comfortable with that aspect. Johnson wants to show his leadership skills through his play on the field every Friday night. 

Johnson sees himself playing on the defensive side in college as an edge rusher or a linebacker. He has been working on his techniques and mindset when attacking an offensive line. The coaches at the college camps have helped him to improve along with Joey Burch and the rest of Springwood’s staff. 

Burch has already had a major influence on Johnson’s career and life. In just a year, Burch has shown his care for Greg and CJ. He has helped with travel and attended camps with the two this year and shown his passion for getting his players to the next level. 

“It’s been real good. Knowing that he has the same passion and care to get us to college as we do, it’s just great that we can have somebody in our corner fighting for us to get a scholarship just like we are,” Johnson said. 

Getting a scholarship to play college football is hard, and there are other challenges that Johnson has to face. Transferring to Springwood meant that Johnson was now on an 8-man football team. There are many misconceptions that come with playing 8-man football, Greg and his brother work to dispel those misconceptions at each camp. 

“When me and my brother go to camps like this, the 8-man thing just goes out the window,” Johnson said. “We’re really just competing. Me and my brother, we’re just athletes. 8-man or 11-man, we still can show that we belong on a college football team.”