Brendon Pricco is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral for AZPreps365.com

Chaparral High receiver Plas Johnson is usually the fastest player on the field. 

For him, football isn’t just a game.

It’s a guide for him on how to live his life.

Johnson has been playing football since the third grade.

It’s in his blood. His dad played football. Everyone in Johnson’s family tree played a sport. 

Johnson tried out basketball when he was younger, and still does track, but football has his heart. 

Going into his freshman year, Johnson was deciding whether or not he wanted to attend Chaparral. In order to test the waters, Johnson was attending some of their summer practices. 

“I remember one time he rode his bike to and from practice during the middle of the day in the summer," Chaparral junior quarterback Shea O'Brien said. "It took him about an hour each way." 

O’Brien put an end to that.

“From then on I would take him to practice,” O’Brien said.

Johnson’s determination and work ethic has helped him become the person, and football player he is today. 

“Not a lot of people know how much time he puts in outside of practice when nobody is watching,” Firebirds junior receiver Christian Corrales said. 

Corrales and Johnson have been teammates since they were in fourth grade. 

“One day, both of our families went out to eat after a game one day and we became best friends ever since,” said Corrales.  

Johnson's "dedication and commitment,” makes him a special player, says Corrales. 

“My usual schedule would be, five to six days out of seven,” said Johnson about his offseason workout schedule.

Johnson would spend his days either in the weight room, doing fieldwork, or doing recovery work on his body like physical therapy or a sports massage. 

One thing Johnson was focused on when working out.

Details.

“Every specific little detail,” said Johnson. “I put so much time and effort into it all.”

The main details Johnson focused on this offseason were his footwork and misdirection skills.

“I'm working on my head posture where I’m looking to the side and can cut back out,” Johnson said. 

His attention to detail and work ethic don’t stop off the field. 

“I just want to continue growing in everything,” said Johnson. “School, I’d like to focus more on that, because now I’m learning that that’s something a lot more important, something I gotta put focus in.”

Johnson has received a scholarship offer to play football at Colorado State. In his first two games of this season. Johnson has over 250 receiving yards.

That success hasn’t changed Johnson’s mindset on growth.

He knows he can always improve.

“The amount of work I’ve already put in is a lot, but I know I can do more, and more,” he said. “I just want to be more constant with going 100%. Sometimes I’ll slack, and that’s something I need to fix.”

Johnson compared his journey to a ladder.

“I just need to continue to climb, and climb, and climb,” said Johnson.