Hillsborough's Johnson receives offer from Harvard

Hillsborough defensive end Reggie Johnson received an offer to play at Ivy League college Harvard Thursday, Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia said.

Johnson is quite a talent both on and off the field. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior owns a 3.5 grade point average and also plays saxophone in the school's band

Johnson is coming off an offseason in which he had surgery on both shoulders and his left thumb. Last season, he played through being hurt, Garcia said, but still had a team-high 8 1/2 sacks, including a pair of 2 1/2-sack games against TBT and Largo in Hillsborough's final two contests.

A three-year starter for the Terriers, Garcia said he might also use Johnson as a standup linebacker this season. He is one of the team's four four-year seniors with receiver Charles Lovett, fullback/linebacker Jamie Knott and linebacker Gerald Pearson.

"He's going to be an impact player for us," Garcia said. "He missed the spring because he was rehabbing, but he's come back bigger and stronger. If he can stay healthy, he's going to be a real eye opener."

As an Ivy League school, Harvard does not offer athletic scholarships but can give student athletes financial help through their academics.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA (eencina@sptimes.com)

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• Reggie Johnson

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• Hillsborough High School