2024 NEMFCA 8-Man Hall of Fame Inductee Salutes - Brandon Johnson, Rushville High School

BRANDON JOHNSON- RUSHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

(Here is our 4th of twelve 2024 NEMFCA Hall of Fame inductees. Today we feature one of 8-Man football’s toughest players ever, the great Brandon Johnson.)

A highly disruptive force from day one, Brandon would go on to become one of the most prolific Eight-Man linemen ever from Nebraska’s Western Panhandle. As a standout multi-sport athlete, he led the Tigers to a District Title as a junior, the State Playoffs in both 2002 and 2003 (racking up 321 total tackles, 21 sacks, and 15 Fumble Recoveries), and won the 2004 Class D State Heavyweight Wrestling Title.

In his prep career, Brandon was a multi-time First Team Offensive & Defensive Line selection for the All-Area, All-District, and All-State teams. Then in the summer of 2004, he was chosen to play in both the Eight-Man All-Star Game and the Nebraska Shrine Bowl Game.

After graduation, Brandon continued his playing career at Iowa State University- where he became a 3-time letterwinner and finished his 2007 senior campaign starting every single game at the center position. He was a key contributor on the Cyclones 2004 and 2005 Big 12 North Championship teams and was also named to the All-Big 12 Football Honor Roll.

The NEMFCA is honored to now welcome him into the 8-Man Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

1000 Yard Guy’s observations…..I wasn’t afraid of carrying the ball against anyone back in my playing days at GICC in the mid-1960’s (thank goodness I missed Tom Kropp by a few years though) but I certainly would have thought twice before wanting to meet Rushville’s Brandon Johnson head on with a football in my hand had I played during his era.

Let’s be honest, any 8-Man player that can start for a Division I football team like Iowa State is one heck of a talent and Brandon Johnson certainly fits that billing.

The man must have been an imposing figure at Center for the Cyclones at 6-4, 322 pounds.