Johnson selected as the 2022 VDN Defensive Player of the Year

Vicksburg High School football player Demarcus Johnson has been selected as the VDN 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Johnson, who starred on the defensive line, led Warren County in sacks(10) as well as helping VHS to a 10-3 season along with district title and a trip to the third round of the playoffs in a season to remember.

“The overall season was great and I think I made myself better at different parts of time but overall it was a good season,” Johnson said.

Johnson also racked up 10 sacks as a sophomore in 2021 but he turned things up a notch in 2022 as he got much faster and stronger while grabbing 85 total tackles.

“I got much better with using my hands and jamming people off the line and being more physical.”

Johnson quickly proved he was serious and displayed exceptional performance in every game, especially in the 40-0 win over Jim Hill where he had a career-high of four sacks. Midway through the season, he suffered a knee injury but quickly bounced back to help lead the Gators who went on a 10-game winning streak.

Throughout all the big moments that happened this year for VHS, Johnson’s favorite memory was helping his head coach, Todd McDaniel, to his 100th victory in the 14-0 win.

“To be there with him during that point of time was special,” Johnson said.

Although Johnson had a minor setback due to the injury, he bounced back and had no problem getting through offensive linemen and tearing up running backs in the backfield and earning District Defensive Player of the Year.

Being a junior, Johnson still has a state championship on his mind for next year, and he knows in order to do that he must step into a stronger leadership role.

“I feel like I gotta be a bigger leader and make those around me be so we can bring home a state championship next year,” Johnson said.

Johnson is an underrated three-year starter on the line and still has another year to go as a Gator to make his dream come true as a state champion. He is now the third player in VDN history to win this award and he has a bright future in playing the game he loves.

“Football means a lot to me because I have been doing it my whole life since I started with the Packers and I’m very blessed to win this award and I want to thank my coaches and teammates for putting me in this position.”