Nakita Johnson Part of 2023 MDCC Sports Hall of Fame Class

Nakita Johnson – Trojan Football 1984 - 1985

The scatback from West Bolivar High School came to Moorhead weighing only 150 pounds. But Nakita Johnson had a resume that weighed much more.

“I set the record in the state of Mississippi in the state high school championship – scored 40 points, six touchdowns and 359 yards,” Johnson said. “If I got a little crease, I could score.”

He was in the same backfield in the All-Star game with Marcus Dupree. Johnson focused on another great Mississippi halfback – Walter Peyton.

“He was a smaller guy and he didn’t have great linemen. I listened to him and he said ‘I always try to go in the footsteps the defender just moved out of. I don’t give them any more than I can take back.’ I put that into my repertoire and made it work.”

Johnson was recruited by Ole Miss and Mississippi State but they all wanted him to experience JUCO to get toughened up.

“I was always a little hot-headed and said, if you don’t want me now, I don’t want you later,” he said.

He signed with Delta State and had a great spring game but wasn’t taken off the redshirt list and he left and signed with the late Wookie Gray.

“We won the conference my first year and my second year we made the playoffs,” he said.

Johnson was Second Team All-State on Offense for the North Division. After his time as a Trojan, he signed with Arkansas State University with five other Trojans.

“We went there and won our first year. We won the Southland Conference Championship,” he said. “We were back to back and played for the National Championship against Georgia Southern in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. It was a good little ride.”

Johnson tried out for the CFL but an injury cut his career short before it began. That put him on his teaching career.

The 2023 Hall of Fame credits several teammates, coaches and professors with his success.

“Doc (Allen) Snowden taught all the math and he was always there for us,” Johnson said. “He never got tired of us. That’s one man, I’d nominate him for an Oscar if I could. He was special and he was cut out for that profession. He always had time for us and treated us like his own kids. He was always very, very instrumental to us. Even if we weren’t taking his class, we could always go to him for the best advice ever.”

His teammates have become life-long friends.

“Being around the players, we were all just like family and every afternoon it was something from the time we spent after practice at the Student Union and then we would go to the Dorm Lobby and it would pick up there. We just learned about each other and the fun and joking was never-ending. The relationship we built are still here today. We have deep relationships.”

When he got the call informing him of his MDCC Sports Hall of Fame honor, he said, “I had to sit up and catch my breath. I said wow, after looking through the letter, I had to look at it again. I can’t believe this. I’m so honored to be receiving a letter that will honor me for my work and sweat and sacrifice and all the teammates who carried me. This is unbelievable but I really appreciate the committee looking at my play on the field as being worthy of this honor. It’s like a crown for a job well done. I was thrilled about it. Mississippi Delta will always be carried in my heart and I’ll always be a Trojan for life.”

Johnson was also appreciative of his coaches and support staff who helped make him the player he became on the JUCO level.

“I played for some of the greatest coaches from (Head Coach) Wookie (Gray) to (Charles) Sabbitini, Coach (Keith) Bender and Coach (Paul) Downs. And of course, forever and a day, the Manager called Sandy (Wilson.) Everything was the best at Mississippi Delta. I tell my players now, if you do your best, there’s a place I can get you a look. At JUCO it gives your talents a second chance to be looked at on a higher scale.”

His coaching and teaching career includes:

• Rosedale High School – three state championships
• Indianola Gentry
• West Bolivar High School
• Coached players who made it to the NFL – Floyd “Porkchop” Womack with Seattle Seahawks, Ken Lucas with Seattle Seahawks, Dorsett Davis with Denver and Ellis Wyms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He also worked as a policeman in Indianola for four years.