Southern Miss punter is ordained Baptist minister
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BY CURT MCKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Luke Johnson chuckled when describing what it's like to be a 21-year-old ordained Baptist minister.
"I can marry, bury and baptize," he said.
Today, Johnson's duties in Memorial Stadium won't involve any weddings or baptisms. But as Southern Mississippi's punter, he'll definitely be looking to bury the Nebraska offense deep in its territory.
With a devilish grin to boot.
"God wants me to play college football, and I still get to preach sometimes on Sundays and Wednesdays," Johnson said. "God's blessed me."
Adopted in New Orleans when he was a month old, Johnson was raised in a town about 35 minutes away from the Southern Miss campus in Hattiesburg, Miss. Although he grew up in a family that had a deep religious faith, Johnson said he considered himself a born-again Christian when he was 14.
That's when he started preaching, mainly to youth groups, and by the time he was a high school sophomore his church licensed him.
At the same time, Johnson also was showing promise as a punter and kicker. His sophomore season at West Jones High in Soso, Miss., he hit 6 of 7 field goals, including one from 51 yards.
Two years later, Johnson, a lifelong Southern Miss fan, had hopes of joining the Golden Eagles. He got his senior season off to a booming start, too, averaging 50.2 yards with his first nine punts. But in the second game, Johnson tore the ACL in his knee.
With his only offers coming from junior colleges, Johnson opted to walk on at Southern Miss. He redshirted the 2001 season and saw no action in 2002 before emerging as the No. 1 punter last season.
Then, after surviving a rough start — he had four punts blocked in the first six games — Johnson became so reliable that before the Golden Eagles played Utah in the Liberty Bowl he received a scholarship.
His response to that reward was to average 45.8 yards on eight kicks, a performance that earned him the team's Offensive Player of Game award.
"Getting to play was one thing — getting a scholarship was another," said Johnson, who pointed out that his father made good on a promise and got him a new car when he was put on scholarship.
Johnson, who hasn't had any of his last 37 punts blocked, full intends to earn it today.
A year ago, he averaged nearly 42 yards on seven kicks in the Golden Eagles' 38-14 loss to Nebraska. He'd take that number again today, as long as there's not a 13-yarder in there like the one he mis-hit on his first attempt against the Huskers in 2003. From that, NU got a short field and, eventually, a field goal.
"We take great pride in our special teams," said Johnson, listed at 6-foot and 247 pounds. "They tell us over and over how special teams make the difference in a lot of games."
That was a difficult example, but as trying as that and other early season experiences were, Johnson tried to remain confident in his abilities.
He also sought some divine intervention.
"Before the South Florida game (the seventh of the season), I was struggling. I said, ‘God, I need help and I need grace,' and I probably had one of my best games," Johnson said.
In that contest, he booted a 76-yarder, which is the third-longest in school history.
That game also marked the start of a 6-0 stretch that helped the Golden Eagles win the Conference USA title.
"We had an open week (before that) and we just went soul-searching," Johnson said. "I think we practiced in full pads for fours days in a row, too."
But "Rev" wouldn't let his teammates get down.
"When he says something, they listen," Southern Miss special- teams coordinator Lytrel Pollard said. "He uses different language, but he gets his point across. They respect him. They really look to him as someone who does things right."
Johnson, who has done mission work in Africa, plans to attend a seminary. He'll graduate in May, but will be back at Southern Miss next year so he can play his senior season.
Foremost on his list, though, is a burial ceremony he'll be happy to deliver today — after taking in the Lord's Prayer and perhaps providing some calming words for his teammates.
"Sometimes, guys want me to pray for stuff," Johnson said. "With the title comes the responsibility."
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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