By: AJ Mazzolini @ajmazzolini
Photo: Associated Press
In the first signing of a likely handful off the 2014 Montana Grizzly football roster, former UM quarterback Jordan Johnson was picked up by the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League.
Johnson, a three-year starter at Montana, finalized his contract with Ottawa on Thursday.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to keep doing something I love and I can’t wait to get up there and compete with those guys,” Johnson told the Missoulian on Friday.
The 22-year-old from Eugene, Oregon threw for 8,615 yards and 78 touchdowns at Montana, both top-three marks in program history. Johnson completed 58 percent of his career passes against just 20 interceptions.
Most importantly, the REDBLACKS saw the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder as a playmaker who could help Ottawa win.
“Quite a bit,” said Brock Sunderland, assistant general manager for the REDBLACKS, himself a former Grizzly. “He’s a good athlete. In 2011 when (coach Robin) Pflugrad was there, he ran the zone stuff, sort of what Oregon’s been doing, and did it very effectively.
“I think he proved he could beat teams with his legs, extend plays from the pocket and be a threat on the edge.”
Johnson ran for almost 900 yards in his Grizzly career and another six scores.
The young REDBLACKS, now in their second year after Ottawa was previously home to the now-defunct Rough Riders and then Renegades franchises, have plenty of connections to the Big Sky State — starting in the front office. Sunderland grew up in Great Falls and played wide receiver for the Griz from 1998-2000, before serving as a pro scout for the NFL’s New York Jets.
Johnson’s former Grizzly teammate Jon Kanongata’a signed with the club last August as a linebacker and Montana State product Shawn Johnson, a running back, is also on the roster.
Jordan Johnson still resides in Missoula while he worked out in preparation for a career in football. He took the spring semester off from school to train with former Griz tight end Steven Pfahler at his local gym, Pfahler Sport Specific. Johnson said he plans to return to UM next spring for his final semester in the CFL’s offseason to finish his math degree.
“I figured I really only have one shot at it so I might as well give it everything I got,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s determination on the field appealed to the REDBLACKS organization as well. It’s hard to argue with his record between the sidelines, Sunderland said. The QB went 28-11 as a starter, including a trip to the FCS semifinals in 2011.
“The No. 1 thing you look for in a quarterback is if they win or lose,” Sunderland said. “And he’s won a lot of football games.”
Of course that 2011 semifinal against Sam Houston State was Johnson’s last game for almost two years. The quarterback sat out the 2012 season while on trial for rape. He was found not guilty in March 2013.
Johnson will face an uphill battle for playing time in Ottawa. The REDBLACKS now have six quarterbacks on the roster with his addition, including presumed starter Henry Burris.
As long as the former Griz makes the cut before the team’s training camp begins May 31, he’ll benefit from learning under some veteran pros in a backup role, Sunderland said.
“I think what he should focus on and what he is focusing on is coming up, learning the system and acclimating to the style of play at the CFL,” the GM said, before a quick laugh and putting it in terms Montana football fans can understand.
“Truth is, even Dave Dickenson didn’t go to Calgary and win Grey Cups or become the starter his first couple years either.”
Johnson said he’s got his passport all ready to go for when preseason minicamps begin at the end of April. There’ll be a lot of adjusting, not just to the pro level, but to the slight differences between American and Canadian football.
For instance, Canadian teams have 12 players on the field — a larger one than in the U.S. at that — while NFL and down in America all play with 11. There are also only three downs to reach 10 yards in the CFL.
“It’ll be interesting,” he chuckled. “At the end of the day, it’s all football. As long as I prepare myself as best I can to go up there and make that adjustment period as small as possible.”
Ottawa opens its preseason slate June 8 against Hamilton, the Grey Cup runner-up from last season’s CFL championship game. The 20-week regular season begins June 25 when Ottawa visits Montreal.
