Sonny Johnson

Sonny Johnson

Sonny "Bear" Johnson
No. 94 – Prospect
Position:	Defensive Tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2032-01-10)January 10, 2032 (aged 31) Helena, Montana, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	330 lb (150 kg)
Username:	Sonny
Career information
High school:	Big Sky High School
College:	Missouri State
Career history
Roster status:	Active

Sonny "Bear" Johnson (born January 10, 2032) is an American football defensive tackle for the wp:New Orleans Second Line of the wp:National Simulation Football League. He played college football for Missouri State (MSU), and was drafted by NOLA in the second round of the S42 draft.

Early years

Sonny "Bear" Johnson's early life was marked by hardship and isolation. Being bigger and stronger than other kids his age in rural Montana, he was often ostracized and bullied. As an orphan, he had few people to rely on and struggled to find a sense of belonging.

However, football provided a refuge for Sonny. He discovered a passion for the game and found that he was able to excel on the field. Through football, he found a sense of purpose and camaraderie that he had never experienced before. His success on the field gave him a sense of self-worth and helped him overcome the feelings of inadequacy and rejection that he had struggled with for so long.

At Big Sky High School, Sonny was a standout on both the offensive and defensive lines. As a defensive tackle, he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the state, earning a reputation as a fierce competitor who was never afraid to take on larger opponents. His size and strength were impressive, but what set him apart was his innate ability to read the opposing team's plays and make tackles before they could gain any yardage.

His "bear" nickname was given to him by a local reporter after a herculean performance in his senior year against arch-rivals the Falcon Valley High School.

Sonny's success on the field did not go unnoticed, and college scouts from across the country began to take an interest in him.

College career

Despite receiving offers from several prestigious football programs, Sonny chose to play for Missouri State, a school that was a few states away from his hometown. He was drawn to the school's football program and the opportunity to be part of a close-knit team.

As a freshman, Johnson quickly established himself as a key player on the team, starting every game at defensive tackle and earning recognition as the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.

Johnson continued to excel throughout his college career, earning First-Team All-Conference honours three times and being named an All-American in his senior year.

College career statistics

Career statistics			Defense
Season	Team	Games	Tck	TFL	Sck
2052	Missouri State	12	48	7.5	3
2053	Missouri State	11	52	11	5
2054	Missouri State	12	58	12.5	4.5
2055	Missouri State	12	61	13	4.5

DSFL career

2056

Declaring late, Johnson missed the annual draft, but was claimed off the waivers by the Kansas City Coyotes. Johnson started every game of the regular and post-season. Recording 43 tackles and 1 forced fumble in the regular season, he averaged 3 tackles a game. Over the course of the season his tackling ability significantly improved, and by the end of the season he was able to demonstrate a much more polished technique, which increased his effectiveness in bringing down opposing players. Although he didn't record any sacks or interceptions, a personal disappointment, and something Johnson intends to retrieve in 2057, his contributions on the defensive line were evident. Without question his best performance of the 2056 season was in the Week 1 loss against the London Royals, where Johnson recorded 8 tackles. Overall, Johnson feels it was a steady rookie season as a Defensive Tackle. He looks to continues to gain experience and improve his skills over the off-season and return in 2057 as a key player for the Kansas City Coyotes.

2057

There was never any doubt towards the latter part of the 2056 season that Sonny was going to stick with the Coyotes for the 2057 season. It was a decision he second-guessed for long parts of the season as he was played in the left defensive end position and felt he made little to no significance progress as a player for long periods. The team's losing record perhaps helped to form his negative mindset however ultimately the team's season finished the same way as his rookie year, with a loss in the North DSFL championship game. The season saw Johnson give a constant output of steady performances in his new position in the front 3 line-up. Arguably his best game was against away to the Buccaneers, in a loss, 21-20. Johnson recorded 4 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss and 1 sack. The main takeaway from the season was the need to grind hard every week to improve as a player and be in a position to contribute more to the team and his team-mates.

DSFL career statistics

Career statistics			Defense
Season	Team	Games	Tck	TFL	Sck
2056	Kansas City Coyotes	14	43	0	0
2057	Kansas City Coyotes	14	48	2	2

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