Johnson wants to bring back magic to Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

Earvin Johnson arrived at UNLV last season as perhaps the most highly touted prep recruit of the John Robinson era.

Rated among the nation's Top 100 prospects by several recruiting publications, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Johnson was even compared to another famous football-playing Johnson by Robinson.

"He's big and has good hands," Robinson said. "He reminds me a little of Keyshawn Johnson."

Considering Robinson had coached Keyshawn to All-American status at USC, that was quite a compliment.

But Earvin Johnson's first year of college football -- yes, he's named after the former Lakers' star -- was anything but magical.

He played in all 11 games but finished with just 12 catches. He did not score a touchdown.

That figures to change in 2002. With a year of Division I football under his belt, Johnson has been one of the brightest stars of fall camp.

"He might be the most improved player on our team," Robinson says.

Johnson agrees.

"I think this year I'm a different player," the soft-spoken sophomore said.

Credit a year of experience combined with some rigorous off-season work in the weight room for that.

"I'm quicker," said Johnson, who still tips the scales at 195 pounds but looks a lot leaner. "I think spending the off-season in the weight room and working out on the field will make me a better player."

"Last year he was a freshman and you'd say, 'Boy, he's a talented freshman,' " Robinson said. "But now he looks like a man. There's been a real change in him."

The biggest change, however, may be mental. Johnson, who played in one of the smallest classifications of high school football in Southern California while starring at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, could dominate at that level simply because of his size and strength. But in college, he has learned he must be more precise in running his routes and to go full speed on every play.

"When I first came in, Coach Robinson would tell me, 'Play fast. Play fast!' " Johnson said. "But for that first month or so I wasn't playing fast. I was still playing at the high school level speedwise. But then I figured out I better play fast if I wanted to be out on the field."

"He's getting more mature and he's working hard," Rebel quarterback Jason Thomas said. "He's understanding that hard work does pay off."

Again, Johnson agrees.

"I feel a lot more comfortable this year," he said. "I got a chance to develop last year. I was able to watch Troy Mason go out there and play and perform. I was able to take some of his game and put it into mine. I'm looking forward to getting the season started to see what I can do now."