Super Sweet 17: Utah's Robert Johnson Continues To Marvel His Trade

The last time Air Force greeted the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the Falcons left Salt Lake with more than a win. 

They flew back to Colorado Springs, Colo., with a shock. A taser taken to the 40,000 strong as those donning the crimson red were left wondering what exactly had happened. 

I vividly remember that game. It was the first game I'd been to in years. I soaked in the rays as they seemed to have being coming down with more intensity on account of watching Tommy Grady fart his way around the offense all day. 

That afternoon, nothing went right. 

But one play stood out. 

Former Falcons quarterback Shaun Carney ran a triple-option and busted through the line on his way toward the end zone. 

Carney saw nothing but green pastures and a six added on the scoreboard when he was caught from behind. He was tripped up by No. 17—turned out this No. 17 saved a touchdown. 

A 53-yard scamper was turned to a shoe string tackle at the Utah 11-yard line. 

No. 17 saved the day, albeit for a minute or two until the Falcons eventually found their way in for a touchdown. 

Saving the day has become customary to what No. 17 does as his night job. 

Now a senior, Robert Johnson (No. 17) has cemented himself as arguably the most explosive player on the now 5-1, No. 19-ranked Utes. 

Offensively or defensively. 

The kid from Watts, Calif., is hitting fifth-gear at the appropriate time for his team and his stock for such a move to the next level if desired. 

In six games this season, Johnson has accumulated five interceptions and recovered two fumbles—both of which were returned for touchdowns. 

Johnson and I were in a class together during the 2007 season. Then, he was a wide-eyed rookie at Utah, a Southern California kid seemingly out of his element for a while. 

The class featured about 80 students or so, and fittingly it was a class chock-full of football players. Why? Well, it was an upper-division class which was also called Human Sexuality 3000. 

Ipso facto, you catch my drift. 

To say the class was a delight would be a criminal undersell. It was downright hilarity each and every class. 

Yes, it was your archetypal high school-esque classroom feel. The football players spoke out of turn, were a few decibels too high during most of class, and the professor had to knock some heads. 

The extremely jovial Johnson was always interested in asking questions. Were they always legitimate? Doubtful, but the lanky 6'2" kid from South Central L.A. made the class enjoyable. 

Not enjoyable because he was a kid that laced up every Saturday for the Utes, but because he was approachable—personable. When you talked to him, he'd remember your name. He wasn't taking the experience and opportunity to be a collegiate athlete for granted. 

Even after I took a job at The Daily Utah Chronicle, he was more than happy to sit down and talk about his journey to the U. To talk about how difficult it was to grow up in a gang-ridden area such as Watts and how he had lost his father, Wayne Johnson, at the age of five after he was murdered. 

Terms such as "determination" and "perseverance" are often overused, but just talking to Johnson for five minutes, you'll know that the kid has made strides to where he is today. 

But he'd be the first to tell you that he shouldn't be singled out among others. 

On the football field, now that's a different story. 

A ball-hawk by trade, the gangly free safety roams the backfield eyeing the opposing quarterback on a weekly basis. 

The free safety position isn't for those who are susceptible to mistakes. Johnson's job is either to make the play or be the last line of defense. In the case of the 2007 game against Air Force, his job was to make the stop when the 10 other guys could not. 

Johnson's natural skill set is second to none in the nation, something that's grown quite evident as he consistently seems to pad his resume on a weekly basis. 

In that 2007 season, Johnson burst onto the scene in a game against then No. 11 UCLA, which came to Rice-Eccles to best a team missing its starting quarterback and running back. 

There are some players who come out of the woodwork for dubbed "big games" and do so when they are called upon. 

Robert Johnson is a gamer. 

His game against the Bruins spoke louder than anything. Playing against a large number of kids as he did in high school, Johnson hawked the entire game. He picked off Ben Olson twice and forced a fumble out of the back of the end zone, which resulted in a touchback for the Utes. 

One game against a team he grew up watching transformed Johnson into a star. Immediately he was a recognizable face on campus and a picture of his interception against Olson was plastered all over the city. 

Johnson's pick was on a city bus. 

His name was being circulated.

But, 2008 came and no one seemed to remember No. 17. His nature to show up in big moments became a virus for the opposing team as he picked off TCU's Andy Dalton to seal the 13-10 win, made an unbelievable interception against BYU's Max Hall and doubled-up against Alabama's John Parker Wilson in Utah's 31-17 Sugar Bowl victory.

As I covered the flawless 2008 Utes, it was very difficult to stay objective talking to Johnson. He was fun to joke around with during interviews, he'd show his tremendous modesty when talking about himself and his overall playful nature.

When I decided to write an in-depth profile on former Utah cornerback and current Miami Dolphin, Sean Smith, Johnson raced by while I interviewed Smith and said jokingly, "Everything he says is a lie. You need something real, you come talk to me."

What's real is that Johnson is playing his way into the national spotlight as he is tied for first in interceptions thus far in 2009 and has more return yards than anyone in the nation with 139 total. 

In Utah's first loss since Nov. 2007, Johnson single-handedly brought Utes from down-and-out to a shot at escaping Autzen Stadium with a come-from-behind win. 

A fumble return for a touchdown and a key fourth quarter interception? Just another day at the office for "RoJo." 

Speaking of reviving, down 14 points in the second half at Colorado State, Johnson picked off three passes in the second half that keyed a 24-17 win for the Utes. 

Last week, same old story. Interception. Fumble return for touchdown. 

Those who've faced Johnson are glad to escape him and those who are attempting to scout him are trying to find his spot on the field before every snap. 

In his weekly press conference this week, head coach Kyle Whittingham said of his starting senior free safety, "If we singled out one guy the last few weeks who had the biggest impact, it would be RoJo. He is playing his best football as a Ute."

Indeed he is. Undefeated a year ago, and this season making a serious stride toward a potential NFL career, Johnson is Mr. Fix-It for the Utes. 

Athletes are a different breed. Some are so high-and-mighty they seem to be wearing a Terrell Owens scent, and others are just glad to be there and having an opportunity. 

Johnson had a door open two years ago and it swung open, and since, it's been slammed shut. 

Robert Johnson is a treat to the world of sports, whether it be collegiate or professional. The media adores his legitimacy and his encouraging attitude. 

Attitude takes one only so far, but as Whittingham also echoed, "RoJo is one of the best free safeties in the country."

Watching Johnson surrounded by cameras and microphones after his superb performance against the Crimson Tide, the picture, although perhaps a wee-bit cheesy, was perfect.

The hard-working, fun-loving, scrawny play-maker (listed at 200 pounds) was sitting pretty on high.

A year later, he's up to the same old tricks and inducing nightmares to quarterbacks and killing opposing fans with his contagious smile.

Johnson had a bit of a different taste in his mouth after the frigid win against Colorado State. Being heckled on the sideline by Rams fans, Johnson turned around and raised a finger to his mouth and motioned silence.

He proceeded to say, "You need to go home now, 17 said so."

Is his bark worse than his bite? Doubtful. Just ask the long list of quarterbacks he's made look foolish along the way.