He took advice from his coach to heart. Now, Corvian Community’s Cameron Johnson is thriving

Heading into Monday night’s game at Christ The King, Corvian Community School’s Cameron Johnson — The Observer’s high school football player of the week — was having his best season ever.

Johnson credits some preseason advice from his coach, Chris Amill, that helped him change his mindset, and start to reach his dream of becoming a college football player.

That advice? Be much more physical.

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“I told him, ‘When you hit people, they have to go down right then and there,’” Corvian coach Chris Amill said. “I said, ‘If you want to play college football, this has to happen.’”

Amill had that conversation with Johnson, who plays linebacker and running back, in the spring, and the coach reminded him again in the summer.

That message has seemed to land.

So far this season, Johnson, who is 6-foot and 185 pounds, is averaging 8.3 tackles per game, well above his average of 4.9 from a year ago. In a 61-12 win over Winston-Salem Prep last week, Johnson had 16 tackles, including two for a loss. He also ran nine times for 103 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 51 yards.

“To be honest, on of the offensive side of the ball, I knew I was playing pretty well,” Johnson said. “I scored the first three touchdowns of the game. On the defensive side, I was surprised to see I had 16 tackles, but it makes sense. I was around the ball. I remember before every game, coaches tell me, ‘Tackle, and don’t go for the feet.’ It definitely helps me out.”

That performance got Johnson nominated for player of the week.

He won after a week-long vote among Observer readers.

“My junior year,” Johnson said, “I wasn’t really physical, so I knew I had to do more my senior year. I took it as constructive criticism. I knew (Amill) wouldn’t do anything to make me worse. And I’m definitely more productive on the defense side. Last year, I was just out there to be honest.”

Building a power

Corvian Community School is less than half a mile from Mallard Creek High in north Charlotte. The tuition free public charter school offers elementary to high school education. It opened as a low-tuition private school in 2010 and gained its charter status in 2011.

The middle school opened in 2015 and the first senior class graduated in 2022.

Amill has coached the football team since it started playing in the fall of 2022, and Johnson has been a part of all three teams.

Corvian was 5-4 in Year 1, 6-6 last season and was 4-0 before Monday night’s game. The Cardinals are ranked No. 8 in the latest N.C. 1A statewide high school football rankings.

“I figured we would have a chance now to be pretty good because these guys have played together for awhile,” Amill said. “Our seniors now, like Cam, all started as sophomores. These guys started playing at a higher level and learned the speed of the game and everything has slowed down now for them, and they see it.

“We had some guys when we started that didn’t know what hash marks were. It was like Pee Wee football and we went step-by-step with these guys.”

Winning with your friends

Johnson, 17, said he came to Corvian with a group of friends who have known each other since preschool.

“We decided that it was in our best interest to come here and change the program,” he said.

Johnson has certainly played a role.

As a junior, he was second on the team in rushing, behind quarterback A.J. Jackson, with 521 yards on 111 carries and six touchdowns.

This season, Johnson has rushed for a team-best 283 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Jackson has thrown for 433 yards and six touchdowns and run for 182 yards and five more scores.

Senior Noah Best has rushed for 254 yards and four touchdowns.

On defense, junior Jayden Summers is second on the team, behind Johnson, with 28 tackles.

In four games, Corvian has outscored teams 214-23.

“(Johnson) has had a hand in it all,” Amill said. “He’s an explosive player. He put on some good weight in the off-season and got stronger. And he’s gotten real physical on defense.”

Future looking bright

Amill said college coaches are also noticing the change in Johnson’s play, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Amill said Johnson has gotten Division II offers from Ashland (Ohio) University, Ohio Dominican and Bluefield State. Division I Dartmouth is showing serious interest and is setting up a visit.

“He flies around sideline to sideline and he covers a lot of ground,” Amill said. “He always showed ability on offense, but defensively, he played in the box but would tackle like he was defensive back.”

The coach laughs.

“Not anymore.”

Johnson has a 4.2 GPA taking mostly advanced placement courses. He played on Corvian’s basketball team which reached the 1A state championship game in Winston-Salem last season.

He wants the same for the football team.

“We have a strong defensive line and a strong (defensive back) core and me at linebacker,” Johnson said. “I help hold it down. We knew we could do this and prove people wrong that doubt us. We’re a 1A school and some people don’t believe in 1A programs as much as they should.

“This year, we’re out to change all that.”

Previous winners

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Week 0: Carson Clutter, Charlotte Latin

Week 1: Sean Brady, Hough High School

Week 2: Fernando Zelaya, Olympic High School

Week 3: Cameron Cyr, Hough High School

Week 4: Jayden Jones, Independence