Texas Legacy Recruits Look to Follow in Father's Footsteps

Johnnie Johnson, an elite athlete from La Grange, Texas, journeyed to Austin and started his legacy as a Texas Longhorn 39 years ago. Now his two sons, Texas verbal commitments Kirk and Collin Johnson, have the opportunity to extend the family name.

"Like father like son" is a common saying in today's society. But not many sons have the chance to grow up telling the stories of their father's legendary football past. Even fewer have the opportunity to follow in their father's footsteps and continue the legacy.

Johnnie had more than 100 scholarship offers in four sports: football, baseball, basketball and track and field. But he followed his heart and decided to play football for the University of Texas. This small-town athlete turned into one of the most well-known football players in Longhorns history.

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If you are a college football fan, you have probably heard the name Johnnie Johnson more than a few times. He was a unanimous All-American during his time playing for the Longhorns, and the New York Downtown Athletic Club named him the nation's best defensive back in 1978—in other words, he won the Thorpe award before the Thorpe was in existence.

He was a first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams, had a decadelong playing career in the National Football League and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

There are a handful of stories about how a son has followed in his father's footsteps to play the game he loves.

Case in point: The Mannings. Father Archie Manning was a quarterback at the highest level, and his two sons, Peyton and Eli, are currently in the same boat.

But when was the last time you heard of two sons planning to attend the same university as their father and all three being elite football players at different positions? 

Meet the Johnsons

Credit: Instagram @Call_In_Johnson

The Valley Christian High School prospects are Rivals250 athletes in their respective recruiting classes. The eldest, Kirk Johnson, is a 6'0", 200-pound running back and is expected to sign his national letter of intent with the Longhorns on Feb. 4, national signing day. Kirk's younger brother, wide receiver Collin Johnson, is 6'5", 205 pounds and was the first verbal commitment of the Longhorns' 2016 recruiting class.  

The two have spent many years of their young lives playing the game they love. But their father knew at an early age his boys had special talents.

"When both were in Pop Warner I knew they would have a future," Johnnie said. "I'm not just saying this as their dad, I'm saying it as someone who has witnessed and played against some of the world's greatest athletes and at one time was one of the world's best athletes. I feel blessed watching them grow up."

Growing up with a father who has spent time in the spotlight is not something every athlete can understand. But it is second nature for the Johnsons. In fact, knowing what their father accomplished has served as inspiration for them to be the best they can be.

"It was motivation. I have always looked up to him. He’s a phenomenal player, but he’s an even better father," Collin said. "He has always led me in the right direction but never forced anything on me. He always wants me to figure things out on my own and never put any pressure on my brother or me when we were making our college decision."

Following in Their Father's Footsteps

Credit: Twitter @KirkoGrinds

Many times college football programs will offer siblings because one is a better athlete but will not attend a university unless his brother is by his side.

That is simply not the case for the Johnson boys.

College offers came pouring in for Kirk and Collin. The duo had 18 combined offers. USC was one of the other schools that was truly in the hunt for Kirk and Collin's commitment.

But one offer stood above the rest, and the chance to continue the Johnson legacy at Texas was far too exciting to turn down.

"It was a huge impact on my decision," Collin said. "He came from a small town with 11 brothers and sisters and didn’t have anything. Then he had the opportunity to go to the University of Texas and now has taken care of us really well. It makes me want to do everything I can to be the best football player I can be at Texas and also the best man."

Kirk and Collin recently took in the University of Texas campus. Kirk was on his official visit while Collin was taking in an unofficial. Collin referred to his unofficial visit as "unforgettable." Kirk said USC was the only school that really battled with Texas, but in the end he wanted to play at the same school as his father.

"My dad wanted me to make my own decision," Kirk said. "I thought it would be really cool to go play in the stadium where my dad played and to be able to play alongside my brother. We’re trying to get my sister (Camille Johnson, who is an elite basketball and track and field athlete) to go there as well. But I thought it was a big deal to play for the school where my dad started his legacy."

Johnnie has been through the recruiting process firsthand. He understands how important it is for his sons to make their own decision. The fact both of his sons chose the school he attended was just icing on the cake for the Hall of Famer.

"I always told them they were going to have their choice of where they want to go and I was going to support them 100 percent on where they decided to go," Johnnie said. "My wife and I know how important it is ... We were going to support it wherever they went. But am I excited that they chose the University of Texas? I am, but I am very pleased that it was their choice."

Representing the Family Name

Credit: Valley Christian High School

Collin and Kirk are very respectful young men. They tend to fit the exact mold of what head coach Charlie Strong expects of his players at Texas.

Johnnie has raised his boys with the same core values Strong has instilled in his team: honesty, treating women with respect, no weapons, no drugs and no stealing. The father has told his sons the importance of living their lives with these core values, especially when they are in the spotlight at Texas and have a responsibility of representing the family name.

"They know they have a responsibility. The core values that Charlie Strong teaches is something my wife and I teach in the household. Without those core values, you’re challenged because going to a school like Texas, everything you say and everything you do is under a microscope. And the fact that they are Johnnie Johnson’s sons even elevates that," Johnnie said.

"When Kirk Johnson signs, the entire country is going to say, 'He’s Johnnie Johnson’s son and is following the Johnnie Johnson legacy.' That’s a responsibility that everyone is going to be aware of. It’s like that at every school, but it’s very elevated when it’s Kirk Johnson of the Texas Longhorns or Collin Johnson of the Texas Longhorns. I’ve tried to prepare them for being in the public eye. Like most elite high school players, they are well known, but they have grown up with that being in our household."

Living up to the standards of what Johnnie Johnson did at Texas could result in an immense amount of pressure. But the father does not expect his sons to become a clone of him; he just wants them to be the best individual they can be. 

Collin said, "My dad always tells me, 'Son, don’t ever feel like you have to be me. Just go out there and be yourself. God set this up perfectly. We are all our own person so you be the best you that you can be.'"

The Strong Factor

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Kirk and Collin had the opportunity to play football at a variety of major programs across the country. Part of their decision to go to Texas was to follow in their father's footsteps, but a big factor was the opportunity to play for Coach Strong.

Strong has been under the microscope since he arrived in Austin in 2014. During his first year on the job, he was criticized for not being the best public speaker, discussed as possibly being too tough on his players and followed it up with a losing season.

But Strong has gained a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail, and his disciplined message is something that excites many parents.

The Johnson boys will be thousands of miles away from their family in San Jose, California, when they arrive at Texas. That type of distance is not something many parents would enjoy, but Johnnie feels comfort in knowing his sons will have a father figure in Strong.

"The values that Charlie Strong teaches are the same values that we as parents strive to teach in our household," Johnnie said. "They are the exact same ones that the Johnsons have in our household. It gives me comfort to know my boys have chosen a program where they know they’re walking into those core values ... to know that my boys are in good hands.

"Charlie is preparing young men for life and that’s the most important thing to me as a parent. I played pro football for 10 years, and it was some of the best years of my life. But when I was done playing I was in my early 30s and still had my life ahead of me. If there’s anything I can teach my boys it’s to be humble and confident and make sure they always practice those core values."

Starting a New Legacy

Credit: Valley Christian High School

Even though Kirk and Collin will be attending the same school as their father, they have the opportunity to make a name for themselves as individuals. They will always be the sons of a former Longhorn great—which is a big deal in the state of Texas—but the fact the duo play completely different positions than their father will help Kirk and Collin create their own legacy.

"When you look at the Mannings, Archie played quarterback, Peyton plays quarterback and Eli plays quarterback. In our case, I played defensive back, Kirk plays running back and Collin plays wide receiver. So they have the opportunity to start their own legacy since they are playing entirely different positions than I did."

The brothers are very talented yet very different athletes. But the one thing they have in common is their desire to be the best on and off the football field.

"It was special because when you think of legacy, not always do you see a case where they all carry their own weight," Johnnie said. "Texas didn’t offer those kids because of their dad. They offered because they are elite players. What I find very interesting and what I’m most pleased about is all three of us are elite, but all three play different positions.

Kirk is the type of running back Strong needs for the future. He's an all-purpose back who is very disciplined, has the ability to run with power and speed and has great vision on the field. But one of his strongest and sometimes overlooked talents is his ability to block. With the departure of Malcolm Brown, Kirk could be the exact answer the Longhorns need.

Johnnie feels his elder son is one of the best running backs he has seen. 

"Kirk runs the ball like he is angry at the world," Johnnie said. "In my opinion, Kirk doesn’t get the credit that he deserves, but he’s one of the best running backs I have ever seen. From the time he was in Pop Warner to what he did in high school being 6'0", 200 pounds, he’s the complete package."

Collin has a much different skill set than Kirk. His height works as a big advantage for him, but his skills are some of the best at his young age. He is a very big, physical and athletic receiver. He has great hands and rarely catches the ball with his body. He has a fantastic ability to make a big play over the middle if teams leave him in one-on-one coverage.

And similar to Kirk, one of his best attributes is his blocking ability.

When it comes to his younger son, Johnnie feels even he would have a hard time covering him when he was at his prime.

"How many wide receivers do you see who block like they’re mad at the world? There are some times where Collin has gotten flags thrown against him because they aren’t expecting to see someone block like him in high school," Johnnie said. "Covering Collin would be a challenge for anyone, including myself when I was at my prime. Collin just may be the most skillful, complete receiver that I have seen at his age in quite a while."

It's obvious these brothers are very talented athletes, but Johnnie has made it a point to instill humbleness in his boys and expects them to create their own legacy when they arrive in Austin. 

"I always taught them to be humble but confident. My expectation for them to go to college was not to become another Johnnie Johnson. It’s for them to become Kirk Johnson and Collin Johnson," Johnnie said. "But what I ask of them is every snap they play, play it like it’s the last snap of their life. That will give them an opportunity to be successful and to carry on the Johnson legacy."

Taylor Gaspar is Bleacher Report's featured columnist covering the Texas Longhorns. All quotes were obtained firsthand.

Follow Taylor on Twitter: @Taylor_Gaspar.