Published: August 03, 2009 03:47 pm      

ECU's Wizard

Johnson named LSC North preseason player of year

ADDISON, Texas — His teammates call him ‘Magic’. An opposing coach says his team refers to him as ‘The Wizard’. Whatever the case, East Central University quarterback Marcus Johnson certainly earns respect from his counterparts in the Lone Star Conference.

Such was the case Thursday as Johnson was tabbed LSC North Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight time during annual media day festivities at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The two-time LSC North Offensive Back of the Year (2007 and 2008) and senior-to-be has established numerous school records and counting in his two-year stay with the Tigers.

The opposition certainly dealt out the compliments toward Johnson as at least three conference head coaches made references to his abilities and star power during their five-minute speaking sessions.

“Our guys call Marcus ‘The Wizard’,” said Angelo State head coach Dale Carr.

Carr knows first-hand what Johnson can do after Johnson torched the Rams with a school-record six touchdown passes in a 48-31 victory during the 2007 season in Ada. Last season, Johnson turned the trick again, matching that 2007 effort, with six scoring aerials in a 41-21 home triumph over Southwestern Oklahoma State.

“It’s very funny to me. I thought you had to be smart to be called a wizard,” quipped Johnson. “I’m friends with some of the Angelo State players.”

Johnson has certainly stated his case for perhaps being the best passing quarterback in school history. He already owns school records for passing yards in a career (5,618 and counting), season (3,110) and game (426 in a 34-24 loss at Angelo State last year).

He also owns school marks for completions in a career (525 and counting), season (269) and game (39). He also has more attempts in a career (862 and counting), season (446) and game (62).

Johnson anticipates another great offensive year, but believes the pressure can be taken off with a solid running game.

“I think we’re going to have a good rushing game,” said Johnson after the Tigers averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in 2008. “We’re going to be explosive with our running game and may be surprising some people.”

Johnson admits he has bought into the system that new head coach Tim McCarty has brought in for his second stint.

“I’ll be under center a lot more as opposed to the spread that we had before,” Johnson said. “Coach McCarty is a great man and he’s made me believe. It seems like there are always trust issues when there’s a coaching change. But coach (McCarty) has come in and done a great job, basically picking up where he left off the first time he was here (in 2004 and 2005).”

LSC NOTES

• ECU was picked fifth out of six teams in the LSC North. Central Oklahoma was voted first with 90 points, followed by Texas A&M-Commerce and Southeastern Oklahoma in a tie for second with 70. Southwestern Oklahoma State was fourth with 39 points, ECU was fifth with 37 and Northeastern State, with 30, rounded out the preseason poll. UCO received 12 first-place votes, Southeastern had three and A&M-Commerce ended up with one.

• A&M-Commerce’s Willie Green and UCO’s Jermelle Cudjo, both senior defensive tackles, were voted LSC North Co-Defensive Players of the Year.

• Abilene Christian was predicted to win the LSC South with 135 points and 16 first-place votes on 20 ballots. West Texas A&M (three first-place votes) was second with 107 points, followed by Tarleton State (86 points), Texas A&M-Kingsville (84), Midwestern State (82), Angelo State (42) and Eastern New Mexico (24). MSU had the other first-place vote. Tarleton State running back Roderick Smith was selected as South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Abilene Christian lineman Aston Whiteside picked up the South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor.

• In volleyball, ECU was picked 12th out of 14 teams after receiving 133 points. Defending champion West Texas A&M, with 524 points and 31 first-place votes, was picked first. Abilene Christian, with 478 points and four first-place votes, was selected second, and Tarleton State, with 427 points and three first-place votes, was third. Midwestern State was fourth (384 points), followed by Texas Woman’s (352), Angelo State (349), Central Oklahoma (314), Texas A&M-Commerce (258), Southeastern Oklahoma State (246), Cameron (198), Texas A&M-Kingsville (175), ECU, Southwestern Oklahoma State (104) and Eastern New Mexico (48).

• In women’s soccer, the Lady Tigers were picked 10th out of 11 teams. West Texas A&M was selected first with 286 points and 14 first-place votes, followed by Texas A&M-Commerce with 275 points and 11 first-place votes. Central Oklahoma, with 247 points and three first-place vote, was picked third. Midwestern State was selected fourth with 240 points, followed by Abilene Christian (191), Angelo State (159), Northeastern State (134), Texas Woman’s (133), Eastern New Mexico (86), ECU (64) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (33).

• In cross country, ECU was picked fourth in both the men’s and women’s divisions. On the women’s side, Midwestern State was first with 356 points and 22 first-place votes, while West Texas A&M was second with 310 points and one first-place vote. Abilene Christian was third with 298 points and eight first-place votes. ECU was fourth with 269 points, followed by Central Oklahoma (264), Angelo State (234), Tarleton State (169), Southwestern Oklahoma State (161), Texas A&M-Commerce (109), Eastern New Mexico (104), Texas A&M-Kingsville (91) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (53). On the men’s side, Abilene Christian topped the prognostications with 216 points and all 24 first-place votes, followed by Tarleton State (174), Texas A&M-Commerce (162), ECU (134), Angelo State (117), Cameron (100), West Texas A&M (71), Eastern New Mexico (63) and Texas A&M-Kingsville.