By his own admission, wide receiver Deondre Johnson struggled with his confidence during the first half of last season at Division I Jacksonville State in Alabama.
At that moment and at that level, Johnson’s season could have gone sideways. However, the Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) graduate worked hard to figure things out. The result?
Johnson, who is 6-foot-8, established himself as one of the best receivers in Conference USA, a bona fide star. The expectations for him are even greater this season, and Johnson told Mid-Hudson News Sports during a Zoom interview this week that he is OK with that.
“Last year wasn’t as big as I expected,” said Johnson, a senior, with two years of eligibility remaining. “There were some ups and downs, but I put in the work and showed what I can do. I was much more confident in the second half and was just in competitive mode. I want to continue to work on that and dominate every play.”
Johnson led NFA to the 2022 Class AA state championship game and went on to sign with Rutgers. However, after seeing limited playing time, he decided to transfer to Jacksonville State. Maybe he just needed to find his way at Jacksonville State, a small college town nestled among the rolling, wooded hills of northeast Alabama.
Johnson said part of his rebirth in 2025 can be attributed to watching more film, studying the playbook, and asking more questions, with Jacksonville State head coach Charles Kelly putting in the time and showing patience. His breakout game came last Oct. 29 in a 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee. He caught four passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. All three were career highs. Johnson finished 2025 with 30 catches for a team-leading 724 yards and six touchdowns.
Johnson helped Jacksonville State finish 9-5 and defeat Troy 17-13 in the 21st annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. He caught six passes for 101 yards in that game. Johnson has been named a preseason All-Conference USA second-team selection this season by college football analyst Phil Steele. Johnson has NFL aspirations, with two more years to develop his big game at Jacksonville State.
After finding his confidence and footing last year, Johnson hopes to turn last year’s breakthrough into something even bigger this fall.
“I look forward to accomplishing many of my goals and continuing to progress,” Johnson said. “I have always had a competitive spirit, and once I started making plays here, it just felt natural. I feel like I’m locked in. I hope to continue to make my family and Newburgh proud.”