EARLY SIGNING DAY '21: Marbury's Johnson heading to Troy

Marbury offensive lineman Matt Johnson signed with Troy on Wednesday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

MARBURY -- The head coach may change, but that’s not the reason Matt Johnson wanted to play for the Troy Trojans. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to play there,” Johnson said. “I’m glad to be close to home. Even with the coaching change, I think he’s the right guy to have in there and I felt very strongly that it was best for me to stay.”

Johnson was recruited by former coach Chip Lindsey, but Lindsey was fired by the Trojans a day after Troy wrapped up the season with a 45-7 loss to Appalachian State. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the program, the Marbury senior never second guessed his decision. 

“A big part of it for me was I never necessarily committed to a coach, I committed to Troy,” he said. “The atmosphere down there has always made Troy special.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Johnson signed with the Trojans in a ceremony in the school lunchroom, becoming one of the first five signees for new coach Jon Sumrall. 

Johnson joins Brantley quarterback Tucker Kilcrease, Munford offensive lineman Kyler Gibson, Oneonta linebacker Luke Hodge and Bremen (Ga.) linebacker Blake Matthews as early signees for Sumrall, the former Kentucky co-defensive coordinator who is familiar with the area after working as an assistant with the Trojans in 2015-17. 

“I knew him back when I was in Enterprise,” Marbury coach Hayden Stockton said. “I told (Johnson) he was a really good guy. Once it became official, I told Matt he was a good guy and the second guy they came out to meet on the recruiting trail was Matt, so that tells you how important he is to them.”

Johnson (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) said coaches want him to play either center or guard for the Trojans, but he is eager to begin the transition to college football.  

“I love Coach Sumrall,” he said. “I’m excited to do big things for him.”

Johnson, an extremely athletic lineman who currently plays on the basketball team and competes in track and field as well, is the first signee under Stockton, who took over the program last May.  

“This will be my first full year,” Stockton said. “We actually get them in the weight room in January. The commitment they’re going to have to have is extreme, but the payoff is that we have two or three guys up here signing on signing day next year. It takes hard work, but it’s well worth it.”