Football: Stone Bridge Senior James "Poohster" Johnson to Play D-Line at Christopher Newport

James "Poohster" Johnson (#73) opens a hole for Marcus Harris in the state title game.

(Mar. 23, 2011) - Stone Bridge High School senior lineman James "Poohster" Johnson announced Wednesday that he will play football next year at NCAA Division III Christopher Newport.

Johnson will play defensive line for the Captains, a position the 5-foot-11, 300-pound Johnson played for the Bulldogs until switching to offensive line during his junior season.

On the offensive side, Johnson was all-district and all-region and helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back trips to the VHSL Division 5 state finals. He was named the Bulldogs top offensive lineman after the season.

The Christopher Newport coaching staff had seen Johnson, who can bench 420 pounds, on film playing defensive line and that was the position they pitched him on as the recruiting process happened quickly, with CNU coaches visiting Johnson at Stone Bridge and then inviting him down several days later to visit the Hampton Roads area school.

It will be a Homecoming of sorts for Johnson as his father grew up in the area and there is still family living there and looking forward to watching Johnson play in college.

Christopher Newport captured the USA South conference title in the fall and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the seventh time in 10 seasons.

Johnson will join other Loudoun players on the roster including Broad Run grad linebacker A.J. Schmetzer and Loudoun Count grad defensive lineman Teddy Orrison -- both freshman in the fall.