Kenyatta Jackson, Jamaal Johnson are Broward 5A-Ind. Football Defensive Players of the Year
Opposing offenses had to pick their poison.
They could try to stop Kenyatta Jackson... but then Jamaal Johnson would make them pay.
Or they could try to stop Johnson... and then feel Jackson’s wrath.
Chaminade-Madonna’s one-two punch along its defensive line was an almost unstoppable force all season, and the senior duo was integral in the Lions claiming another Class 3A state title — the school’s fourth in five years.
After a year of dominance, Jackson and Johnson are the Miami Herald’s Broward Class 5A-independent Football Co-Defensive Players of the Year.
The two having been playing together since they were 9 years old playing Optimist football together in Miami Gardens. The chemistry on the field between the two is apparent.
“It’s just that little brotherhood and that bond that we have,” Jackson said. “Last year, we didn’t finish off as strong as we wanted to and lost in the state finals. This year, we came together as leaders.”
Just how good were Jackson and Johnson this year?
They led the Lions in tackles — 80 for Johnson, 78 for Jackson.
They led Lions in sacks — 21 for Johnson, 18 for Jackson. Five of those combined sacks (three for Johnson, two for Jackson) came in Chaminade-Madonna’s final two games — a 21-0 shutout win over Berkeley Prep in the Class 3A state championship game and a 35-24 win over Gilbert (Arizona) Highland in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series.
Both Johnson and Jackson said they realized this team had the potential to make a state championship run from the start of the season when they beat Davie Western 30-13. Jackson had four sacks that game. Johnson had three tackles for loss.
“That really set the tone for the defense,” Johnson said. “I just kind of knew then that this team was very special.”
After that, they helped rally the team together from an early-season loss to Plantation American Heritage to run the table the final 11 games of the season.
A big reason for that success stemmed from Jackson and Johnson’s ability to be disruptive in the backfield. It played a key role in Chaminade-Madonna posting five shutouts in 13 games this year and holding two other opponents to fewer than seven points.
“We wanted to set the example for the younger guys behind us,” Johnson said. “We always had a mind set of depending on each other. And when you have stuff like that and you have to live up to the hype, it starts with hard work.”
And now, they’ll have the chance to show they can replicate their success at the next level. Jackson is heading to Ohio State, while Johnson is heading to UCF.
The chance to continue living out their football dreams continues.
“Football means a lot,” Jackson said. “It’s my happy place, my escape from the real world. Just putting the helmet on, putting the shoulder pads on, I’m a whole different person on the field rather than walking around like a regular person. It’s like my Superman to my Clark Kent.”
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