The 11th in a series featuring newcomers to the University of Arkansas football team
Josh Gibson sat on Ahkhari Johnson’s porch and had a two-hour conversation with the then-rising ninth-grader before taking a walk around Johnson’s neighborhood.
Johnson’s athletic ability had already stuck out when Gibson coached against his middle-school team, but it was the hours he spent talking to the soft-spoken Johnson where Gibson grew a strong desire to have Johnson play for him at Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove High School.
In the four years after their lengthy first conversation, Johnson blossomed into a consensus three-star prospect while breaking records at Pleasant Grove and quarterbacking the Hawks to a 12-1 record in his senior season.
When he wasn’t on the field, Johnson spent most of his time at Gibson’s house. He became close friends with Gibson’s son, who played for the Hawks and will be a student assistant for the University of Arkansas this season, and developed a bond so tight with his high school coach that Gibson took a trip to Fayetteville to co-sign on Johnson’s apartment.
“Someday I hope to be officiating that dude’s wedding,” said Gibson, who officiated Arkansas senior defensive lineman and Pleasant Grove graduate Landon Jackson’s wedding in April. “… The best thing I can tell you about Ahkhari Johnson is the substance of a man he is. He’s a gem of a human being.”
Gibson has taken plenty of people on tours of Pleasant Grove’s new $8 million facility, about 45 in the last two months, he estimates, and each time he’s struggled holding his tears back as a slideshow runs featuring many of Johnson plays.
“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve been around and he’s probably the most humble human being I’ve been around,” Gibson said. “It’d be so easy for him to have a big head, but he didn’t have a single moment like that. When you talk about Ahkhari Johnson you’re talking about a one-percenter, especially in this day in age where college athletics is turning into a pretty selfish business across the board.”
“We have seven current (Division I) players, and every single one of them starts and is a captain or breaks records, and Ahkhari is going to be one of those guys because he has the talent but he’s also a one-percenter when it comes to work ethic and pouring into people. He’s a different human being and a blessing to be around.”
Gibson’s father Vance has coached football for over 40 years at the high school and college level. He had high praise for Johnson, calling him “one of the most unique human beings I have been around.”
Johnson, who is listed as a defensive back on the Arkansas roster, also made a good impression at Pleasant Grove off the football field. According to Gibson, during his freshman year, Johnson earned a Citizen of the Month Award, which is voted on by the school’s teachers and given to the best student for that month.
“Right away, it was like this kid is a joy to have in the classroom,” Gibson said. “He’s an unbelievable athlete, he’s humble, he’s friendly to everyone. Everybody at our school is an Ahkhari Johnson fan.”
Johnson started playing football at 8 years old. Along with football, he played basketball until his sophomore year and competed in track and field throughout high school.
It wasn’t until he switched schools ahead of ninth grade and started growing his connection with Gibson when he realized that he could play football at the next level.
“He’s willing to do anything for somebody that he loves,” Johnson said of Gibson. “You don’t get that much at the high school level or any level really, a coach like that who will do anything for you.”
Their first few interactions left Gibson impressed by the “mental notes” Johnson took along with his ability to apply them to the field. He knew Johnson was a great athlete and intelligent player with a good attitude, but the leadership aspect was missing.
It wasn’t until Johnson stepped into the role of starting quarterback when he began to prioritize his vocal leadership. He was the first player to be voted a “Heart and Soul guy” by his teammates during his senior season, according to Gibson, and delivered a heart-felt, lengthy speech to his team upon receiving the honor.
To Gibson, the speech showed the progress the once-shy Johnson had made in becoming a team leader. Gibson even recorded the speech and sent it to Johnson’s coaches at Arkansas with a message attached: “This is who you’re getting.”
“It’s an unbelievable speech,” Gibson said. “He turned into a really good speaker.”
Johnson’s time at Pleasant Grove led to a top 100 player ranking in Texas by Rivals and top 25 athlete nationally by On3. He holds the single-season school record for passing touchdowns and completions with 32 and 135, respectively, and ranks second with 2,274 passing yards. He received offers from 14 Power 4 schools before committing to the Razorbacks.
Despite leading Pleasant Grove to success, Gibson says his favorite memories with Johnson are seeing him take pictures with his teammates, including Gibson’s son, after games.
“I just see a human being that I love so much and that I’m so proud of,” Gibson said of the postgame pictures. “He has a beautiful smile, gives you everything he has and is such a throwback, old-school person as far as character and integrity goes.”
Johnson will now head to Fayetteville for his freshman season at defensive back with the Razorbacks. He says he committed to Arkansas because of the welcoming he felt from coaches and players on his visits.
Johnson is unsure of what his job on the field will be, but he’s carrying the same mentality that led him to a successful high school career into Fayetteville.
“Just doing the best I can in whatever role I have,” Johnson said of his goals for his freshman season. “Whether that’s getting reps at safety, special teams, whatever it is, I just want to be the best teammate possible and do my job.”
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