Senior Scout Bowl to highlight local high school football talent Feb. 27
MADISON – Danny Kendall Johnson was a sophomore football player at Alabama A&M when he was tragically killed in an auto crash in 2016. That moment in time made up of sadness is now filling others with joy through the work of the Danny Kendall Johnson Foundation (DKJF) formed eight and a half years ago soon after the death of the Foundation’s namesake through the annual Senior Scout Bowl game and Media Night gathering.
Scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Saturn Ballroom of the Von Braun Center, the Media Night will honor high school student-athletes selected to the All-City and All-Region Football Teams to celebrate their academic and athletic achievements. In addition, the Foundation will award scholarships to those deserving seniors. The event also highlights the mission of the DKJF, which aims to create positive opportunities for young athletes through education, athletics and community engagement.
Danny Johnson was killed in a car crash on March 24, 2016, at 8:10 a.m. at the intersection of Alabama Highway 40 and Jackson County Road 124 in Scottsboro’s Jackson County. The 20-year old Johnson was a passenger in a 2011 Kia, which was driven by his girlfriend Selina Brown, 19. Their car collided head-on with a 1999 Dodge pickup driven by Travs Clifford, 21, of Dutton, Ala. Johnson was attempting to shield his girlfriend when he saw the truck headed at their Kia. It was determined the accident was caused by Clifford who was under the influence. Both Clifford and Brown survived the incident that occurred on a cool, cloudy morning.
Johnson was a sophomore at Alabama A&M where he was studying biology with dreams of becoming an anesthesiologist. He was a two-year starter for the Bulldogs’ football team on defense. His twin brother, Devon, was a wide receiver on the team before he transferred to Tennessee State where he became an All-American receiver. He currently works as a surgical tech at Huntsville Hospital.
Danny Johnson loved football. He attended Madison Academy, Monrovia Middle School, Sparkman and Johnson High Schools before making his way to college at Alabama A&M. The foundation named in his honor is chiefly operated by his parents Danny K. and Susan Johnson and the main goal is to change the Alabama State Law to increase the penalties for such crimes that caused the untimely death of the young Johnson.
“Every year we want graduating seniors to play in this game and gain tremendous exposure to help them in the dream of playing football on the next level, much like Danny did,” said Danny K. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation and father of the Foundation’s namesake, author of the book “I Wish I Knew,” and is on the Advisory Boards for MADD in both Alabama and Georgia. “Each player will be a big part of the game and keep their uniforms after the game has been played.”
Approximately 90 invitations were delivered to possible attendees and players in the tentatively schedule Scout Bowl Game set for March 27 at Milton Frank Stadium. The game will feature those invitees who would like to put their talents on display for several college recruiters in an effort to possible earn a spot on a college team. The four local schools have the following invited to the Senior Scout Bowl media Night: Bob Jones: Brendan Jethroe, Christopher Caterina, Henry Roberts, Nolan Whigham, Rhys Dorsey, Romeo Washington, Tyler Karl; James Clemens: Aaron Gonzalez, Alex Lively, Braylon Walters, Eric Young, Jocq Dennis, Karter Grace, Malikai Cooper, Mason Rose, M.J. Gideon, Trevor Caudle; Sparkman: Benjamin Blake Battle, Brayton Caudle, Braylon Lawson, Trey Dixon III, Isaac Jeffery, Kam Reynolds, Noah Medlen, Walter Pruitt, Zayden Bodner; Madison Academy: Barrett Canerday, Charleston Owens, Daylen Scott.
The DKJF has opened the Media Night to all who would like to attend as the keynote speaker will be Dr. Harry Hobbs, Retired from the U.S. Army and Vice President of Huntsville Utilities. Tickets to the VBC gathering are $75 with VIP sponsor tables at $1,000. Contact dannyjohnson914@gmail.com or visit www.thatsmydanny.com to purchase tickets and obtain more details.
