Kareem Johnson had a tremendous four-year career at St. Anne’s-Belfield, helping re-ignite the Saints’ program after a disastrous 0-10 season during his freshman campaign.
Johnson played a little bit of everything during that, time, amassing nearly 2,000 receiving yards while also returning kicks and playing defensive back and linebacker for the Saints’ defense. He was seemingly whatever the Saints needed in whatever situation.
Now he’ll get to bring that same mentality to the FCS level as Johnson joins William & Mary as an invited walk-on this fall.
“Having Kareem commit to William & Mary is just awesome,” said STAB coach John Blake. “I have watched him grow up and am very proud to have had the opportunity to coach him. William & Mary is not only getting another good football player, they are getting a great young man.”
Johnson, who has attended STAB since early in elementary school, was the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in VISAA’s Division 2 but has been a versatile offensive threat for several years. He also plays basketball and lacrosse for the Saints. As a lacrosse player he was part of a defense that played tremendously during last season’s state title run.
Several years back, the Saints sent Bryan Stinnie and Quincey September to the Tribe and Johnson joins a number of local players who have continued their career at William and Mary as invited walk-ons like Monticello’s Griffin Davis and Western’s Daniel Kuzjak. Kuzjak is one of the latest to prove that walk-ons can find a big role for the Tribe after hauling in 32 passes for 479 yards this season.
Other walk-ons for the Tribe over the years include Walter Payton Award Winner Lang Campbell at quarterback and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator and former all-conference player Sean McDermott.
Now Johnson gets a chance to try and join that long line of walk-on success.
