April 9, 2005

Charleston, SC - For three years, linebackers have been the target of Porter Johnson's wrath.

The 5-10, 220-pound junior earned his playing time as The Citadel's best blocking fullback. Lined up in front of tailback Nehemiah Broughton, Johnson's primary responsibility was to find a linebacker and clear him out of Broughton's path.

But in new Citadel football coach Kevin Higgins' spread option offense, the fullback position is essentially non-existent. And it didn't take Higgins long to figure out that he will need Johnson on the field somewhere.

That's why Johnson has gone over to the "dark side" and is working out at outside linebacker this spring. Today's scrimmage will be his first full-contact test at his new position since his days at Loris High School.

"I'm back home," Johnson said this week. "I came in here as a freshman at linebacker, and now I feel like I'm back home."

It was Johnson's fearless hitting that prompted former coach Ellis Johnson to move him to fullback three years ago, and that should suit him well at linebacker, Higgins said.

"I said to our staff, I don't want to look on the sidelines and see him there for half the game on offense when he could be playing every play on defense," Higgins said. "And the thing about Porter, and all these guys in general, is that they are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. That was apparent in his willingness to move over to defense."

Higgins' spread option will usually feature only one running back, and sophomore Montrell Lee and senior Chris Gibbs lead the depth chart there. Johnson had only 13 carries for 62 yards and no touchdowns last season.

At strongside linebacker, Johnson finds himself alongside Shawn Grant, Andrew Rowell and the other linebackers he's been butting heads with in practice for three years.

"They say I've come back over to the dark side," Johnson said. "When Shawn and I came in as freshmen, we had a tight defense and I was over there with them. Now I'm back home and I think it kind of boosted morale over there. All my classmates are excited about it."

Johnson's move to linebacker adds depth to what was already one of the deepest parts of the team. He's listed at first team at strongside linebacker in front of rising junior Raleigh Jackson. Rising senior Grant, rising sophomore Andrew Rowell and rising junior Chris Murray also have plenty of experience at linebacker, and Steve Spann is a promising redshirt freshman.

"I feel real comfortable," Johnson said. "Right now, I'm learning the packages and working on the pass coverages. But other than that, I really like it."

Except for one part.

"It's kind of funny," Johnson said. "I always used to cut the defense when I was blocking. And now some of those guys are offensive linemen, and they are cutting me. So I guess I know how it feels."