QUICK FACTS Name: Michael Johnson Born: Nov. 4, 1988, in Durham, N.C. Parents: Michael Johnson and Mina Forte-Ferguson Sibling: brother, Naszir Ferguson (14) - “He is the starting JV quarterback at Hillside (High School). He is going to be way better than me... not even close.” Hometown: Durham, N.C. High School: Hillside Major at NCCU: Sports Management Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo Favorite Music Artist: Drake Favorite Movie: “Bad Boys II” Favorite TV Show: Fresh Prince Favorite Book: “Next Question” by Drew and Jason Rosenhaus Favorite Athlete: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts quarterback - “In my opinion, he is the best quarterback to ever play the game.”

Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself that others may not know.
Michael Johnson: “I was a ball boy at NCCU football games from the fourth grade to the eighth grade. What I remember most is the team bus being escorted by the police to go to the Aggie-Eagle Classic games. It was so packed at Carter-Finley Stadium that we used to have to meet the team at the hotel before the game. With the police motorcycles and police cars leading the way, I felt like I was the President. It was amazing to me then and I still smile about it now when we get police escorts to our games.”

Q: Why did you choose NCCU?
MJ: “Because of the family atmosphere and the location of being home. The great support I was going to have, knowing that my family was going to be behind me no matter what. I am a family guy. It’s just home to me and I love the University.”

Q: What do you like most about being an NCCU Eagle?
MJ: “I like the school pride. Whether our athletics are doing really well or struggling, we still have a lot of school pride.”

Q: What is your favorite part of game day at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium?
MJ: “Last year when we had the eagle against A&T. That was pretty cool watching him fly around. We haven’t had an A&T game at home in so long. It was amazing seeing the turnout for the game. We showed up for the game two hours early and there were people everywhere.”

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
MJ: “I don’t believe in pre-game rituals. I just like to stay loose. I am not a serious guy. A lot of guys are serious and want to be left in their own zone. I guess I need to be away from everybody so I don’t mess them up. I don’t need to be too serious, because then I get to thinking too much. The best thing for me is to go out and play the way I know I can play and just bring the energy.”

Q: If you could invite any living person to WG Pearson cafeteria for lunch, who would it be and why?
MJ: “Meagan Good. She’s an actress. If I could walk into the café on Chicken Wednesday with Meagan Good on my arm … whew … that’s enough said. That would make all the other girls want me and make all the guys jealous.”

Q: What has been your most memorable moment at NCCU?
MJ: “I’d say the first time I got thrown into action my redshirt freshman year against Presbyterian. I had no idea what I was doing out there. It was crazy. They say you are young and dumb, you go out there and just play, but somehow you seem to have some success just off of raw ability. I remember Stadford (Brown) went down the game before so Keon (Williams) had to start, then Keon went down and I told coach (Mose) Rison, ‘We’re about to come back Coach.’ He looked at me and said, ‘You hardly know any plays.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but we’re about to come back.’ I remember my first pass, it was a 52-yard touchdown pass to Will Scott. We were down 21 points, but we came back and had an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter with a couple seconds left on the one yard line, but we fumbled the snap. It was bittersweet, but it was a lesson learned - you are good, but you have a long way to go. It was like the football gods just letting me get real close but then saying we are not going to make it that easy for you.”

Q: When did you start playing football?
MJ: “I started playing football in the second grade with the Tri-County Panthers. I was a right guard. I was probably two years younger than the guys I was playing against, but I was about their size. I think that is where I got my toughness from, starting out on the offensive line.”

Q: How would you like to be remembered from your playing days at NCCU?
MJ: “I’d like to be remembered as a good, smart quarterback who just went out every game and gave it his all no matter what. Also, that I am a passionate person. I am dedicated and I am serious about the football program and the University as a whole.”

Q: What three words best describe you?
MJ: Intense. Deceptive. Unpredictable.