We're going to do something a little different this year....check out the myspace page for Waco High. http://www.myspace.com/wacolions

Be the first to be added.....to keep up with thangs.

One of the greatest linebackers to ever play for Waco High, The University of Texas, and Kansas City Chiefs - Derrick Johnson Click here to see a special page in his honor.

It wasn't that long ago that a lean, athletic linebacker from Waco High created a buzz after a terrific sophomore season with the Lions that witnessed him emerge as one of the state's top playmakers.

Two years later the kid was one of the nation's elite linebacker prospects and he eventually signed to play college football at The University of Texas.

It's been almost a decade since Derrick Johnson first exploded onto the Texas high school football scene, but the images of the Butkus Award winning linebacker running sideline-to-sideline are still firmly implanted in the hearts and minds of Waco High faithful.

The image of what Johnson's fulfilled potential looked like is one of the reasons why those close to the program are so excited about another young player that dominated as a sophomore and appears to be on the verge of becoming the next big thing from this Central Texas recruiting hotbed.

Meet junior defensive back Victor Johnson.

As a sophomore in 2005, Johnson turned heads with a team-high 126 tackles and interception for the Lions and expectations are already building that he might be the next great defensive prospect to come out of a program that has produced countless stars in the past.

"I feel like I'm going to be a great player, but I still have some things that I can do to get better and improve my game," Johnson said. "I need to work on my speed. I can get faster. I need to be able to get my 40-time down to at least the 4.3's. I also need to work on my technique. I need to work every day on getting better there."

While the 6-2, 175-pound Johnson is working every day to improve as a player, there are many that already feel like he's among the state's premier talents. In fact, any conversation with college coaches about the topic of the state's top prospect for 2008 won't take place without the mention of Johnson.

"I'm looking forward to recruiting," Johnson said. "I really like Miami. There's just something about them that I really like. I also have a lot of love for Texas A&M. They recruited my older brother (Tory DeGrate) and I have some love for them. Oklahoma State is another school that I like, too."

Of course, the Texas Longhorns also figure to be in the picture for Johnson when recruiting heats up after his upcoming junior campaign, but for right now Johnson wants to focus on the upcoming season and his academics.

"There are some things that I can learn from when my brother was being recruited," Johnson said. "I want to focus on taking the tests earlier and getting those out of the way. I want to get that taken care of quickly so that I'm eligible. Really, I'm interested in all of the schools."

I know that rankings are not that big of a deal. But, it is nice to see Waco High getting noticed after posting a 2-8 season in 5-A.

Here are the 4-A rankings from Dave Campbell's Texas Football:

1. Texas High
2. Brenham
3. Copperas Cove
4. Rosenberg Lamar
5. Denton Ryan
6. Corpus Christi Calallen
7. Wollforth Frenship
8. Stephenville
9. Wichita Falls Rider
10. La Marque
11. Highland Park
12. Pflugerville Connally
13. Aledo
14. Alamo Heights
15. Buda Hays Consolidated
16. Keller Fossil Ridge
17. Marshall
18. El PasoRiverside
19. Beaumont Central
20. McKinney North
21. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff
22. Waco High
23. Houston Yates
24. Kilgore
25. Edcouch-Elsa

One of top Texas prospects for 2008 has emerged from Central Texas and apparently the Waco safety has all the tools to be great. Only heading into his junior year, the talented Victor Johnson has solid speed and is drawing heavy comparisons to some of Waco's past greats.

One of top Texas prospects for 2008 has emerged from Central Texas and apparently the Waco safety has all the tools to be great. Only heading into his junior year, the talented Victor Johnson
has solid speed and is drawing heavy comparisons to some of Waco's past greats.

Victor Johnson is one of the top prospects for the class of 2008 in Texas.
Johnson, already at 6-foot, 174 pounds, is a defensive back who also stars on the track team for his high school. Running in events such as the spring relay, long jump, and the 200 dash, the fast young man is looking to get even better as an underclassman. He has the family tradition to be great as well.                                      

"I train hard every day," Johnson said. "Track has kept me pretty busy because I'm participating in a lot of events. I'm kind of doing the same thing that my brother Torey Degrate did when he was here – just working hard."

His brother, now at Texas A&M, has been pushing him to think about the Aggies when his recruitment comes going into his senior year. Right now he's getting mail from them and several others.

"I get some stuff from Oklahoma State, Utah, Iowa, UCLA, and teams like that," he said. "It's nothing too serious yet. I like A&M though because my brother is going to be playing there and he's pushing for me to go there. I told him I might have to meet him on another team and go against him."

"I like Miami and Oklahoma State too."

Johnson will also be heading to the NIKE Training Camp on April 22 in College Station. The young man has boat loads of time to think about recruiting. Johnson even has time to think about which position to play on the next level.

Offense and defense are possibilities.

"I play safety but I also play receiver," Johnson said. "Really, I play everywhere. I'm all around the field. I can't really tell you where I'm best at because to me, I'm good at both.

The Lions will open the season zero week