Too small to be big time? Bishop Kelly's Rakeem Johnson showing otherwise

BOISE - New Bishop Kelly football coach Chris Culig joked with Rakeem Johnson during their first meeting that he was too small to be an offensive lineman.

But a lot has changed over the past eight months for the Knights' standout player.

He’s 30 pounds heavier, was anointed a three-star prospect and the state’s fourth-ranked recruit, according to 247sports and is one of only four Idaho players to be committed to an NCAA Division I "Power 5" program.

The now 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pounder will play for Oregon State University - as an offensive lineman.

Johnson will lead the undefeated and second-seeded Knights (9-0) against Boise State University-bound Gatlin Bair and No. 15 Burley (4-5) at 7 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the Class 4A state playoffs at Nick Ysursa Field.

“I haven’t really been around a guy that’s as impactful on both sides of the ball in 20 years,” Culig said. “So it’s pretty special to coach.

“His ability to move, bend, get out on the perimeter as an offensive tackle and then turn around and play stand up end, I’ve coached some really good ones, but he’s definitely right up there for sure.”

Johnson was born and raised in Boise. But both of his parents and older brother, Raoul Johnson Jr.. are from Liberia in West Africa.

After civil war ravaged their country, Raoul Johnson Sr. spent a year trying to bring his family over while studying for his Master’s degree in civil engineering. He missed out on the birth of Raoul Johnson Jr., who was 13 months old before meeting his father for the first time.

“I’m very grateful,” Rakeem Johnson said. “They really sacrificed themselves to try and make the best for their kids.”

Rakeem Johnson, especially. He regularly kept his father up until 2 a.m. most nights trying to beat him on their mini-basketball hoop in the living room -at age 3.

“He wouldn’t accept defeat,” Raoul Johnson Sr. said. “He had to make sure he won before we went to bed.”

Rakeem Johnson never lost that competitive edge.

He once scored all 22 points in a 22-0 win during a first-grade basketball game.

And it has all translated over to the gridiron.

Johnson, who was nearly 5 feet tall in the third grade during his first year of tackle football, played up a year that season.

Back then, he was a running back - and a good one at that.

“It was really fun. I just loved scoring touchdowns,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I really wasn’t the guy that tried to juke people out. If I saw someone in my way, I just ran them over.”

But with his size, that only lasted for so long.

He was moved over to the offensive line in the sixth grade. And only a few short years later, Johnson was making his varsity debut for the program his older brother won state titles for.

Raoul Johnson Jr. was a part of the last Bishop Kelly team to bring home a banner in 2015. It capped a run of three consecutive Class 4A championships - the first three-peat in classification history. 

Johnson Jr. went on to play at Weber State. But while there, he still made sure to help his baby brother pursue his own dream.

“It’s really, really tight,” said mother Zoe Johnson about their bond. “Rakeem calls his brother most of the time to get advice from him about what to do and what not to do. He would send his brother his film and Raoul would take time out of his very business day and watch it. So I just admire the relationship that they have.”

So when it was his turn, Rakeem Johnson was ready.

That day came late August of 2021. He was a sophomore making his first varsity start against perennial Class 5A power, Eagle.

“My first varsity game was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” Johnson said. “It was the scariest thing ever. But also the most exciting thing ever.”

The Knight fell, 35-33. But  Johnson hasn't missed a start since. They’ve also only lost three other games with him in the lineup.

However, one of those happened in last year’s state final against Skyline.

Bishop Kelly was 12-0 going into that game. It had beaten everyone by double digits with the state’s best defense.. But the Knights watched as the Grizzlies claimed their third state title in a row with a 50-35 win.

“He didn’t talk for almost a week,” Raoul Johnson Sr. said. “He blamed himself for a lot of the stuff. He thought he could have done better. He thought he didn’t work hard enough.”

So Rakeem Johnson spent the entire offseason trying to make up for it - one full of change.

He received his first NCAA Division I offer from Boise State in January.

“When they called me into Andy Avalos’ office, it was the most surprising thing ever,” Johnson said. “I thought I was just going to get Big Sky looks because my brother played at Weber State for six years.”

Longtime Bishop Kelly coach Tim Brennan then retired after 27 years. Culig was hired from Class 5A power Rocky Mountain (won two 5A titles) to replace him.

“When I met with him, I was impressed,” Culig said. “His personality is awesome. He’s a great leader, super well-liked and plays hard. I knew he could play offensive line.”

So did Air Force, Boston College, Washington State and, of course, Oregon State, who all offered him in the ensuing months. But he only took visits to the two Pacific-12 Conference schools. 

Johnson verbally committed to the Beavers on July 26.

“They told me exactly how they’d use me in their offense and their plan for me,” Johnson said. “Corvallis is such an amazing place. It really just felt like home there.

“Once I committed, it felt like everything was off my chest and I could just focus on one team.”

And that’s exactly what Johnson has been doing for the Knights this season.

In addition to anchoring an offensive line that’s helped produce the classification’s top offense (47.2 ppg), Johnson has been instrumental on the other side of the football, as well. He has 17 tackles and a sack at defensive end for a defense, which once again ranks No. 1 (9.6 ppg).

“There’s no question, I think he’s the best player in Idaho," Culig said. "He’s pretty dominant. Whether he’s getting the ball or not, he’s totally impacting the game on every play.”

Johnson has even gotten in on the scoring action.

Last week on "senior night" against Skyview, he lined up as an extra tight end. On a play dubbed the ‘hook-and-fatter,” quarterback Ben Avella hit wide receiver Cooper Cammann on a short pass. But Cammann tossed the ball back to Johnson, who ran the ball in from 6 yards out, dragging a few would-be-tacklers into the end zone with him for not only the game’s first score, but his first touchdown in years.

“It was pretty amazing,” Zoe Johnson said. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that Rakeem would run in a touchdown, especially in the position he plays now. It was crazy. I was dancing and screaming.”

Rakeem Johnson is doing all of this with a cast on his right hand, too. He landed on it wrong during the regular season encounter with Burley on Sept. 29. It resulted in a small fracture. 

But it hasn't stopped or slowed him down one bit.

“He’s always been a champion,” Raoul Johnson Sr. said. “So that’s what’s pushing him.”

And maybe Culig’s quip, too.

“I’ve tried to prove him wrong,” Rakeem Johnson said with a laugh.

(All photos courtesy of Raoul Johnson Sr.)