Former L.C. Bird football star is college team catalyst
Fred Jeter | 2/17/2015, 7:59 a.m.
When Nassau County, N.Y., Community College needed big yardage this past football season, they gave the ball to Yahkee Johnson.
“Yahkee was our catalyst. That’s who we went to in crunch time,” said Nassau Coach Joe Osovet. “He’s not only a dynamic
performer, but also a great person.” Johnson was a ringleader this past fall in Nassau’s undefeated football season.
The former Chesterfield County L.C. Bird High All-State performer rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns in leading the Garden City, N.Y., school to a 10-0 record.
Johnson was first-team All- Northeast Conference and honorable mention Junior College All-America.
Nassau went 9-0 in the regular season, then defeated Scottsdale, Ariz., 34-27, in the Valley of Sun Bowl Dec. 6 in Scottsdale. Osovet says Johnson will transfer to a four-year program after he completes summer school. His suitors include James Madison, Hampton, Maine, Delaware, West Virginia, Southern Miss and Virginia Union University, according to Osovet.
Johnson’s younger brother, Robert Johnson Jr., is currently a freshman guard on the Indiana University basketball team. Robert Johnson started 23 of the first 24 games for the Hoosiers and is the squad’s top 3-point shooter, hitting 34 of 80 for 43 percent.
Another younger brother, Malik Johnson, is playing basketball at Blue Ridge School in Saint George, Va.
The Johnson brothers’ father, Robert Johnson Sr., is a former standout basketball player at George Wythe High and Virginia Union University.
