Former Carver teammates excited for Jeremy Johnson

AUBURN – Jeremy Johnson received a text message from a former high school teammate.

Carver senior running back/safety Melvin Tyus, who played with Johnson in 2012, had a quick exchange with his friend.

"Are you ready?" Tyus asked Johnson, who will make the biggest start of his life today when he leads No. 6 Auburn against Arkansas.

"Of course," Johnson responded, and then asked Tyus, who he saw less than a week earlier at Cramton Bowl when Carver played Opelika in the Champions Challenge, if he was ready for Carver's game with Lee Friday night.

"I know when he goes out other on that field he's going to give it his all," Tyus said. "He's ready to show the world what he can do and I'm pretty sure he's going to throw a deep ball a couple of times, a few times, so Arkansas better be ready for that."

Tyus, who said he's attending today's game as a recruit, will be among many from the Montgomery area who will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium to see the hometown hero make his first career SEC start.

For those who can't attend, like former teammate Harvey Harris, now a running back at Alabama A&M, they'll settle for watching via the SEC Network.

"It means a lot," Harris said via text message Friday. "I watched him wait anxiously last year; now his time is here."

After a 25-day long charade, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn officially named Johnson the starter on Tuesday.

Even with Malzahn saying Nick Marshall would not start back on Aug. 1, as part of the punishment for his July marijuana citation, Johnson's family was not taking anything for granted.

"When they announced it, then I was like OK," said Ojedita Johnson, Jeremy's father. "We got it."

Malzahn said Marshall, who had 3,044 total yards and 26 touchdowns last season, will "definitely" play against the Razorbacks, though it's unclear when he'll replace Johnson.

It's an uneasy position for a parent, wanting his son to perform to his best, but even if he does, it will not do much to change his role as a backup the rest of this season.

"Of course, I'll be nervous," Ojedita Johnson said. "Like I always tell Jeremy, we pray, we prepare and have patience."

The former U.S. Army All-American and 2013's Alabama Mr. Football, Jeremy Johnson will have a sold out crowd watching his every move, including many friends and family.

"He's got a great test for him now," Carver coach Billy Gresham said. "It's an SEC team, it's the first game…we're excited for him."

Ojedita said he's received "hundreds" of calls this week from friends and family sending their well wishes and in many cases asking for tickets.

"He's always been in the perfect position to always showcase his talent," Ojedita Johnson said. "It'll be a big day for us, we're excited. He just wants to keep his composure, do the right things, and help the team."

His former teammates are confident in Johnson's ability to remain cool under the pressure of the national spotlight.

"He'd always tell me to stay focused and stay ready for your turn," Tyus said. "I'm sure that he's ready to play."