SouthFlorida.com | Teen Link South Florida

"Too much Patrick Johnson."

That was about all Cardinal Gibbons football coach Mike Morrill could say after his Chiefs struggled against Ely this season.

In that game, Johnson did more than play cornerback.

He ran the ball. Played quarterback. Punted the ball.

And few people, if any, were surprised.

Entering the season, Johnson told his coach he was willing to do whatever he was asked to help Ely make a state championship run. There would be no title, but early on, it was clear the Tigers' coaching staff was going to find ways to utilize their most valuable playmaker.

And teams were going to be challenged to stop him. Few did and coaches voted Johnson the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Class 6A-5A-4A Player of the Year.

"He can do absolutely everything," said Morrill, whose team couldn't contain Johnson in Ely's 22-9 win. "And that's the problem, you never know where he is going to be. You had to recognize where he was and then you had to stop him. He was at a different level than your typical high school player."

That different level has made Johnson one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. He orally committed to Miami in April, but coaches from some of the nation's premier college programs haven't been willing to accept that.

Florida coach Urban Meyer was there to watch Johnson receive his jersey for the U.S. Army All-American game. Southern California coach Pete Carroll was on hand when Johnson was honored by the Pompano Beach City Commission.

That's what happens when you are your team's leading rusher without even being a running back. One of the team's leading passers without really being a quarterback. When you pull down five interceptions despite the fact teams go out of their way to throw away from you.

Johnson understands wherever he plays college football next year, the expectations will be high.

"Just to be an athlete and be able to play like this and do things, it feels good," Johnson said. "I just tried to keep a steady head, stay humble and elevate my game."