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Another day, another walk-on. This time we have a walk-on defensive back who was a high school teammate of Jimmy Herman
Race Johnson - Fr. (RS)
Carmel, IN (Carmel HS)
5'11", 187 pounds
Defensive Back
2014 Projection: Deep reserve at defensive back
Do not think the fact that Johnson is a walk-on means he won't play. Landon Feichter was once in the same boat and he has now been a regular starter for years. His personal story on his recruiting page shows that he was a two-year starter on a pretty good Carmel team:
I started at Defensive Back and Punt Return. Not only did I start, but I had an exciting season that included 75 total tackles (47 solo), 3 interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and 3 quarterback sacks. My biggest game happened on my 17th birthday. Carmel was playing Warren Central, then ranked 13th in the nation, for the Sectional Championship. I prevented a touchdown by ripping the ball from a receiver's hands and then on Warren's final drive in the last second of the game I intercepted the potentially game winning pass. Carmel went on to win the 5A State Championship and I was named to the 5A IFCA Junior All-State Team. We were also named 4th in the nation by MaxPreps.
Johnson's senior season ended in heartbreak, as Carmel fell to Warren Central 31-24 in triple overtime just three weeks after beating them 10-7 in overtime. He was part of a defense that gave up only 68 points in nine regular season games and was 8-1 headed into the state tournament.