Ju'Juan Johnson chasing Louisiana's top high school record
For nearly 25 years, dust has built up on one of the Louisiana High School Athletics Association’s (LHSAA) top individual records.
In 1999, quarterback Brock Berlin wrapped up a storied high school career at Evangel with 13,659 total yards on offense.
It was the most in Louisiana high school football history, and nobody has topped the mark since.
24 years later, Lafayette Christian Academy quarterback and LSU commitment Ju’Juan Johnson is making a run at knocking Berlin out of the top spot.
Tracking Ju’Juan Johnson’s path to the No. 1 spot
Johnson sits at 10,393 total yards after week two of the season, putting the four-star prospect 3,266 yards away from the record.
It might seem lofty, but it’s within reach. As a junior in 2022, Johnson led LCA to the state title game by finishing the year with 5,438 total yards.
Johnson has already accounted for 735 yards this season, and LCA has eight games left on the regular season schedule. If Johnson breaks the record during the regular season, it would take an average of 408 yards per game.
Still, there will be more opportunity beyond the eight games on LCA’s schedule. The Knights have played at least 12 games in each of the past two seasons.
If LCA gets back to the state title game in 2023, Johnson will have the chance to play 12 more games.
Johnson would need to average 272 yards per game across that stretch to break Berlin’s LHSAA record.
Johnson averaged 388 yards per game as a junior and 368 yards per game as a sophomore. He’s also in reach of the LHSAA total yards record despite LCA having just nine games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. That year, Johnson accounted for 880 total yards.
Mixing the run and pass in the push for the record
Berlin was ranked nationally as one of the best quarterbacks in high school football, and he signed with Steve Spurrier and Florida before transferring to Miami.
Berlin’s record 13,659 total yards across his high school career at Evangel came because of his arm. He finished his career with 13,902 passing yards, which is still the LHSAA career passing record. But with his rushing totals sitting at -243 yards as a result of sacks, the total yardage count dipped.
Nearly 25 years later, Johnson – who is committed to LSU as a cornerback prospect – is doing it with his arms and legs.
Johnson has 7,866 career passing yards and 2,527 career rushing yards, putting his combined total at 10,393.
The four-star prospect currently has 116 career touchdowns. Berlin holds the state’s career passing touchdowns record with 145, while University High running back and current LSU staffer Nick Brossette holds the state’s rushing touchdowns record with 154.
