Johnson sat out that first year because he had come up short of NCAA freshman eligibility requirements. He couldn't practice, much less play, and his grades "weren't doing so hot at the time," he said. He went home to Phoenix at Christmas and saw his mothers for the last time.
"She past away towards the beginning of second semester. Nobody even knew (about the caner). I think she kind of knew, but she didn't want to tell anybody because she didn't wasnt us to be hurt. She didn't want us to know what was going on. She knew I would have tried to come back and be with her."
After her death, "I thought about giving it up," said Johnson. With the "spiritual guidance" of former Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne and assistants Ron Brown and Craig Bohl, however, Johnson decided to stay. "I made it all this far, "he said.
Johnson replace Octavious McFarlin as the starter after being a backup for two seasons. He's among Nebraska's fastest linebackers, with personal bests of 1.52 in the 10-yard dash and 4.43 in the 40.
He was the Cornhuskers' seventh-leading tackler last season with 49, including seven for losses totaling 29 yards and three sacks. He also was credited with four quarterback hurries.
Johnson started the Kansas State fame when McFarlin was sidelined by an ankle sprain, and his best game came against Iowa State when he registered nine tackles, including two for losses of 13 yards.
Despite the personal adversity, Johnson has remained upbeat, earning a reputation for being among the most outgoing Cornhuskers. "I'm a smiley kind of guy, "he said. "I get that from my mom."
He is credited with 32 tackles last season, including six for losses of 24 yards, and one sack. He also caused two fumbles.
His size and strength make him a perfect fit in the "bubble" defense.
Nebraska also is set at strongside lineback, where juniors Tony Ortiz and Brian Shaw alternated last season, and will do so again. They made 60 tackles between them, including 11 for 58 yards in losses, broke up four passes and were credited with nine quarterback hurries and 4.5 sacks.
Ortiz recovered two fumbles. Shaw broke up three passes and forced an inteception.
Even though they've established themselves, none of the linebackers can relax, of course. Johnson quickly learned that lesson soon after gaining his eligibility in 1996.
"With our prgram, when you first come in, they push you to your limit of emotions," he said. "They break your emotions down, and then they build you back up. It kind of humbles you."
After sitting out a year, however he was determined to succeed.
"I kind of used that year as motivation." said Johnson, who began as a cornerback but was immediately moved to weakside linebacker, where he was describled as a Terrell Farley type player.
Even though he couldn't practice, Johnson never missed a home game in 1995. Sitting in the stands and watching was both difficult and exciting, Johnson said. "When the team came out and the music was playing and you see the crowd, everybody in red. I had never seen anything like that at a game.
"I knew I was going to have to be a part of that one day."
Because of that experience, Johnson has taken it on himself to offer encouragement to young players. "I don't want them to think: "This is how it's going to be forever,' "he said.
"But you've got to want it. You've got to want to play."
He wanted it, and got encouragement early on from older players such as Farley, Jon Hesse, Tony Veland and Mike Minter. "That's the tradition here, and we keep it going," Johnson said. "We teach the younger guys, give the younger guys confidence. There's no jealousy. That surprised me."
Players, even ones as fast as he is, have to adjust to the speed of the game, which also surprised him. "When you first come out of high school-and see, I sat out a year-you remember how it was in high school. It seems like it's slow motion, and you're able to see things a lot quicker," he said.
"Here things just explode. Everything is passing you, and you don't know what's going on. But as you go through practice and you run drills and stuff, it just helps you. It becomes second nature."
Johnson's No. 1 jersey is one of many reminders of his mom. He began with jersey No. 33, but wanted a single-digit number. His preference was No. 4, the number his cousin, Jamelle Holieway, wore at Oklahoma. But McFarlin already had jersey No. 4, so Johnson settled for No. 1.
"My mother alwasy used to say: 'Your're No. 1.' So I just went with it," He said.
Johnson has a more permanent reminder of his mom on his right arm, a tatto opera faces on the biceps and one of his mom's name on the forearm. He got the tattos soon after she died.
One of the faces represnets "the death of my mother," Johnson said.
The other represents "the pain I feel for her. My tattoos are my good luck."
Freeda Johnson never got to see her son play for Nebraska. "But I know she's watching from up above," he said. "I just thank the Lord that I'm able to do the things I'm able to do on the field."
