T.J. Johnson was always the leader of Salisbury High School’s offensive line — and not just because he was the biggest guy on the field. He was a leader — period.

Those same qualities carried over into the classroom. Johnson proved that hitting the books can help you reach the college football gridiron as much as hitting opposing players.

In less than a month, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound behemoth will begin his football career at Methodist College in Fayetteville.

Division III schools don’t give athletic grants but Johnson got an academic scholarship.

That offer helped Johnson quickly make up his mind. He was ready to go to Averett College in Danville, Va., like Methodist, a Dixie Conference school.

But it was a nice surprise when Methodist called.

“They offered me more than Averett,” Johnson said Friday morning.

Johnson will be playing for last year’s Dixie Conference champions. Coached by Jim Sypult, Methodist (7-3) wasn’t eligible for the Division III playoffs because it was the first year of the league in the sport but the Dixie Conference champs get an automatic berth to the Division III playoffs beginning this season.

Johnson hopes Methodist is the team representing the conference, and if it happens, he wants to be anchoring the offensive line.

“Right now, they’ve got me at right tackle,” Johnson said, adding that at Salisbury, he played practically everywhere. “Truthfully, any position on the offensive line is OK.”

Johnson’s weight has not been a big deal to the Methodist coaches because Johnson has worked out enough to stay in good condition.

“I’ve continued to run,” he said. “I’m in pretty decent shape. The coaches told me as long as I come to practice in shape, they’ll work with me, especially things like foot speed.”

Johnson is doing so well with his running that he’s taking on a bigger challenge. He will surely be the largest participant today when a local 5K race begins at Knox Middle School.

Johnson is to report Aug. 8 and will find at least one familiar face in camp: Courtney Caldwell, a linebacker out of Concord.

“We beat them last year,” said Johnson, who helped Salisbury improve from 0-11 his junior season to a 3-8 record. One of those wins was over Caldwell’s Spiders, 18-14.

“I enjoyed playing against him,” Johnson said. “We had words in the heat of the battle. But we shook hands after the game because it was hard-fought.”

Johnson has received interest since his junior season from the likes of N.C. A&T and Morehouse but a knee injury suffered when he was hit by E.Z. Smith IV of Concord held him back.

His MCL problem was taken care of by physical therapy and a lot of hard work.

So Johnson, Salisbury’s senior class president who played three seasons for the Hornets, is happy to be moving up a level to college football.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of,” Johnson said. “It’s something my family wanted for me.”

In fact, he is even thinking of a level higher than college. A much higher level.

“I love the game,” he said. “And you can’t go pro unless you go to college first.”

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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4256 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com .