EMCC Quarterback De’Andre Johnson Named NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week

(Photo Courtesy: EMCC Athletics)

SCOOBA, Miss. (WCBI/EMCC Athletics) – East Mississippi Community College quarterback De’Andre Johnson has collected MACJC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week and on Wednesday was named the NJCAA’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Johnson, a transfer from Florida State University, amassed 588 yards of total offense in directing the EMCC Lions to a 44-42 road win over then-No. 15 Itawamba Community College last Thursday in Fulton.  With 417 passing yards and 171 rushing yards against ICC, Johnson’s 588 yards of total offense rank as the second-highest, single-game output for an EMCC player under ninth-year head coach Buddy Stephens’ guidance.  Former NJCAA All-American and Ole Miss player Randall Mackey previously had 607 yards of total offense during EMCC’s memorable 75-71 MACJC State Championship Game win over Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2009.

A week ago against Itawamba, Johnson connected on 34-of-49 passes (69%) with three touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards on 23 rushing attempts.  The week prior during the Lions’ 54-10 home victory over Northeast Mississippi, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal caller completed 24-of-37 passes (65%) for 286 yards in addition to rushing for 37 yards and two touchdowns to earn his first of two straight weekly state honors.

For the season, Johnson currently ranks fourth nationally in passing yards per game (312.7) as well as pass completion percentage (66.1%).  Through his first three collegiate outings, Johnson has completed 80-of-121 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns.  The Jacksonville, Florida native is also EMCC’s leading rusher on the year with 264 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 42 rushing attempts.

The ninth-ranked EMCC Lions, 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the MACJC North Division, play host to the Trojans of Mississippi Delta Community College Thursday evening on the Scooba campus.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field.