Sept. 24, 2014 RUSTON, La. - Tony Johnson Hard Work Pays Off for Bulldog Linebacker by Will Trahan In today's society, hard work is a key component to success. In the world of sports, everyone shares this ideal. Tony Johnson, a senior linebacker, attributes hard work and doing his job as the reasons he has come as far as he has.

"Life is hard and this game is hard, but you have to fight through it to get where you want to be," said Johnson, who was a role player for the Bulldogs in 2013, splitting time at fullback and linebacker.

Johnson played at Sulligent High School in Alabama and finished his senior year with 164 tackles with 113 solo and 51 assisted tackles. He also recorded two sacks and three interceptions. His team finished with an 11-3 record in his final year before graduating.

After high school, Johnson went on to play at Southwest Mississippi Community College in 2011 and 2012, where he registered 118 tackles in his two seasons with the Bears.

"I am a better person now after going through that," Johnson said. "I was a little childish coming in, and I had to grow up and learn a few things."

Johnson admitted that it was at the Mississippi junior college where he fine-tuned a lot of the fundamentals needed to play the position of linebacker.

In 2013, Johnson split time on offense and defense while playing in all 12 games, starting in two of them. He recorded 23 tackles and one interception for 16 yards, while totaling with 13 of those tackles (six solo, seven assisted) against LA Tech's Conference USA battle with Tulsa a season ago.

"After that game, I came to the sidelines and thanked God. I think a couple of tears came out," Johnson said.

When former Louisiana Tech coach Jeff Koonz was recruiting the 6-foot-2-inch, 254 pound linebacker, Johnson was faced with a decision and eventually chose the Bulldogs over South Alabama, UAB and Mississippi State.

"It is a family environment here at Tech, and I like what Coach Holtz has to offer with his program," Johnson said. "It was a good experience last year because I got to be out on the field."

This year, Johnson will be a starter in defensive coordinator Manny Diaz's new scheme. Diaz said he did not know what to think of Johnson when he got here because of the struggles he had in his junior year.

"My impression was that Tony had a rough go last year because he got here so late in the offseason," Diaz said. "I was impressed with the way he worked in our offseason program."

Diaz also said that he was encouraged by how quickly Johnson grasped the overall concept of the defense as the Sulligent, Alabama native was very vocal in the defensive meeting room.

All Johnson knows is that hard work pays off. Prior to the start of the season, Johnson's teammates showed him a great deal of respect when they elected him as one of four captains.

Johnson said it means a lot to him.

"I did not expect it after last year, but I love the responsibility," Johnson said.

Diaz said that Johnson has earned the respect of the entire locker room and that all of the younger defensive players listen to him.

"It just shows you how college football is. You have a guy that had a hard time finding a home last year and now he has become one of the focal points and leaders this year," Diaz said.

Diaz said it is a shame that we will only be able to see Johnson in this role for one year and not more because he is going to continue to get better as the season progresses.

"He understands what we want him to do so he can go out there and play with the size and speed he was blessed with," said Diaz, who described Johnson as fast and a big hitter.

The goal for this linebacker is the goal of every football player on the team; to be the best linebacker on the field and prove it every week.

"I am competing to be not only the best linebacker on my team, but better than anyone we play against as well," said Johnson, who talks like a seasoned veteran while never taking sole credit for any good thing that happens.

In Tech's 48-20 win over UL-Lafayette two weeks ago, Johnson came up big for the Bulldogs. He had a key fourth down stop on one series, forced a fumble that Tech recovered and deflected a Terrance Broadway pass that teammate Xavier Woods intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

"My defensive line did a great job of plugging up the gaps and made it easy for me to make plays," Johnson said.

Linebacker and teammate Terrell Pinson, who played safety last year before being moved to linebacker in Tech's new defense, said Johnson's leadership is evident by his attitude on and off the field.

"Tony is a great guy and the entire team looks up to him," Pinson said.

Johnson certainly looks the part as the new leader on this defense.

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