Central Catholic's Johnson signs with Louisiana Christian

As much as any athlete in St. Mary Parish, Ja’cori Johnson is a self-made man. Or a self-unmade man, if you look at it that way.

Central Catholic’s Johnson, who slimmed down for quickness between his junior and senior seasons, signed a letter of intent to attend and play football for Louisiana Christian University in Pineville.

Johnson is the second local football player to sign with Louisiana Christian in a week. Berwick’s Cru Bella signed last week to play football and baseball. And Johnson follows former Central Catholic teammate Kye Morgel, a freshman running back, to Louisiana Christian.

To understand Johnson’s story, you have to understand that there is less Ja’cori than there was when he was a junior.

He dropped 70 pounds in a year to slim down to 240 pounds.

“He got to that size so he could move the way he wanted to move …,” Central Catholic head coach CJ Grogan said.

Johnson had his own version of a weight loss plan.

“I just kept working,” he said, “never giving up, eating right. … The hardest thing was to stay consistent. On the days I didn’t feel like it, I made myself.”

Willpower pays off. As the Eagles compiled an 8-3 record, and earned a first-round bye before falling in the Select Division IV playoffs, Johnson notched 46 total tackles, including four for losses and two sacks.

He forced two fumbles and recovered one. Johnson also deflected five passes, intercepted one and scored a defensive TD.

“Ja’cori was a major impact for us on the defensive line and filled in on the offensive line when we needed him,” Grogan said.

Now Johnson may be asked to put some of the weight back on as he moves into college football.

“Once they get him in college and put another 15 pounds of muscle on him, he’ll be all right,” Grogan said.

Johnson’s brother Ja’len was a University of Louisiana-Lafayette recruit in 2017 as a defensive back.

“He does need to improve,” Ja’len Johnson said of his brother. “But everybody needs to improve.

“I think [Louisiana Christian] is a good spot for him. He can develop.”

Louisiana Christian plays in the NAIA Sooner Athletic Conference. After finishing 4-7 in 2021, the Wildcats ended their regular 2022 season with six straight wins to finish 7-4.

Head coach Drew Maddox was a co-Coach of the Year for leading Louisiana Christian to its first winning season since 2014.