Utah Utes football: Johnson stars on field, in community

Robert Johnson has come a long way from the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, where he and his family used to move almost on an annual basis, where his father was shot and killed when he was 6 years old, and where many of his friends ended up dead or in jail.

Johnson is finishing up a successful three-year career at Utah, a place he'd never heard of before Ute assistant coach Kalani Sitake convinced him this was the place for him.

He's made the most of his time in Utah, both on and off the field, as an all-conference safety for the football team, a soon-to-be college graduate and through his service to the community.

Whether it's speaking to hundreds of junior high kids at the annual Salt Lake Kiwanis Club "Terrific Kids" program, which he's done for two years in a row, or coaching 8-year-olds in Pop Warner football for six weeks in the summer, Johnson is always eager to give back.

"He's the first to volunteer for that stuff," says Sitake. "He goes to elementary schools, juvenile centers — he's always trying to help people out. He always has a smile on his face and is really sincere in getting to know people."

"He loves serving others," adds safeties coach Morgan Scalley. "A lot of his past has been people taking things from him and dealing with adversity. He just wants others to be happy. We get e-mails all the time saying what a great representative and ambassador of our university he is. He's a special person."

You'll find that out after spending two minutes with the guy, enjoying his engaging personality and a smile that never stops.

"I like dealing with kids," Johnson says. "I like talking to people who haven't been in my shoes. I like telling where I grew up at and how hard it was for me. I just talk to them like I'm their friend. I just do it because I like it."

Johnson first burst onto the local football scene back in September of 2007. He had joined the team as a junior college transfer from L.A. Southwest College in August and, after two Ute losses that season, was given the starting free safety spot.

His strip of a UCLA player who was about to score a touchdown turned the game in Utah's favor and he also came up with two interceptions in the 44-6 victory, which earned him national player of the week honors.

The previous fall, he had been recruited by Sitake, who, while looking at another player, was blown away by the rangy Johnson.

"I didn't know anything about Utah," recalls Johnson, who was thrilled to get noticed by a major college. "When I'd tell people 'Utah,' they'd say, 'What's in Utah?' "

Sitake told him "Don't worry, just come" and while on a recruiting visit to Washington State — the only other major college that showed an interest — Johnson called and committed to the Utes.