With five tied for the Ivy lead, Elis turn to EJ

Amidst Eric Johnson's, JE '01, record-setting receiving performance against Penn at the Yale Bowl last week, it was a 12-yard rush that epitomized the skill, courage and on-field vision that has earned Johnson Yale's all-time receiving yards mark.

The Bulldogs had been mounting a drive near the end of the second half, thanks to two first-down catches by Johnson, but the offense stalled at midfield after three incomplete passes by quarterback Peter Lee, TD '02. As most of the offensive team left the field to make way for the punting unit, Johnson remained on the field and practiced his high kick—with his sure hands and strong leg, Johnson has been Yale's punter as well as its leading receiver for the last two seasons. But a low snap by Dan Searle, BR '01, and an onrush of Penn defenders forced Johnson to abandon the punt. No matter: Johnson the punter gave way to Johnson the halfback, who barreled through the Penn defense for a first down. As Yale Coach Jack Siedlecki said after the 27-24 Bulldog victory, "Any time the ball is in the hands of your best players, good things can happen."

Throughout his Yale career, Johnson has repeatedly proven that he is one of the team's best players, and it often seems like the Yale offense is geared to putting the ball in his hands. With running back Rashad Bartholomew, MC '01, sidelined for most of the Penn game with injuries to his right ankle and left big toe, Yale turned to the passing attack—specifically, the Lee-Johnson connection, which yielded 13 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson is second in Division I-AA in receptions per game (8.5) and 11th in receiving yards per game (97.5).

When Johnson's hands aren't catching a Lee pass, they are catching a long snap for a punt. Against Dartmouth, on Sat., Oct. 7, Johnson caught a snap and lifted his leg to kick—when he saw a green jersey hurtling toward him. Nonchalantly, like a veteran matador, Johnson picked up the ball and took a step to the side, juking the oncoming rusher. He then casually punted the ball downfield. For the season, Johnson is second in the Ivy League in punting yardage, averaging 38.7 yards per kick. "He has made himself a punter through repetition of drills that he finds time for every day," Siedlecki said. "If you go out before practice, you will see him practicing drops walking along the track."

Still, Johnson readily admits that he doesn't have as much time to work on his punting as he'd like. That's because he's spent an inordinate amount of time working on his receiving skills. Both Johnson and Siedlecki attribute Johnson's development—from a rookie who made four catches in 1997 to Yale's all-time leading receptions and receiving yards leader—to his work with wide receivers Coach Paul Petosa. Johnson's dedication to practice has also been key. "No one works harder on the little things than he does," Siedlecki said. During a game, when the defense is on the field, Johnson can usually be seen tossing a ball on the sidelines with Lee.

Johnson was blessed with extraordinary hands, "The best of any receiver I have ever coached," Siedlecki said. Johnson's famous fingertip grabs, including his game-winning touchdown catch against Harvard last year to clinch a share of the Ivy title, have all come barehanded, without the aid of receiving gloves. But it has been his work on running patterns that has elevated him to one of the best receivers in the league.

Football

Record:5-1, 2-1 Ivy Recent Results: Won at Penn 4-2 on Sat., Oct. 21 Coming Up: Sat., Oct. 28 vs. Columbia

On Yale's first play from scrimmage against Penn, Lee connected with Johnson on a sideline route for 57 yards, breaking John Spagnola's, TD '79, career receiving yards mark in one fell swoop. But it is Johnson's ability to run up the middle, catch the ball in double coverage, take the big hit, and get a first down that he takes the most pride in. "He has tremendous body control and balance," Siedlecki said. "He makes very difficult catches look routine because of his athletic ability."

Johnson attributes his ability to fearlessly leap for balls to his basketball and volleyball days at Needham High (Mass.), where he captained both squads as well as the football team. Johnson dropped the two net sports at Yale to focus on football, but he is widely considered one of the best players in Yale intramural basketball. He was a national Academic All-American last year—and played on the golf team last spring, shooting a 79 at the Yale Spring Opener.

Pro scouts have watched Johnson play this year, and Siedlecki projects him as a potential special-teams player and situation back in the NFL. But Johnson still has not decided whether he wants to pursue football after college. "I like all sorts of things," Johnson said. "There's no one thing I'm inspired to set my goals toward."

"If you talk to EJ," Siedlecki said, "I think he'll tell you he's going to try and make the pro golf tour. And with his inner focus, competitive nature and tremendous work ethic, he may very well do it." Siedlecki may have been speaking hyperbolically. But as he well knows, whenever Johnson gets his hands on something—whether it be a touchdown pass, a long snap, a basketball, a volleyball, a five-iron, or a textbook—good things can happen. Photo by Julia Tiernan.

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