College football is full of great stories about guys working hard and achieving goals. Penn State linebacker Jan Johnson didn’t appear to have a clear path to success when he first arrived in Happy Valley as a walk-on. However, he proved to be a valuable asset as a linebacker on the field and earned a scholarship during last season.
A product of Governor Mifflin High School in Pennsylvania, Johnson was originally scheduled to head to Akron on a football scholarship, but he changed his mind and decided to attend Penn State as a preferred walk-on.
After filling in as a freshman on the wrestling team, and winning a team national championship, Johnson returned to the football program, but wasn’t expected to see a lot of playing time.