Jake Johnson Recalls 'Really Special' First TD Reception From Brother, Max
Midway through the third quarter, Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Max Johnson ran a play-action bootleg to his left side.
He locked on to tight end Jake Johnson and delivered a perfect strike. Jake Johnson sprinted to the goal line, popped Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett and knocked over the pylon into the end zone for his first career touchdown reception, which was thrown to him by his older brother.
"I think it's a really cool experience," Jake Johnson said Monday. "Just to get that brother combo to each and the first touchdown. I think it's really special, especially to do it with him at Texas A&M. It's something we'll always remember and just cherish together."
The Johnson brothers grew up playing football, baseball and basketball together in Athens, Georgia. Their father, Brad Johnson, was a Super-Bowl-winning quarterback in the NFL, while their mother, Nikki Johnson, was a standout volleyball player at South Florida.
Jake Johnson said part of the fun of playing on the same team as his older brother, Max Johnson, was having someone "you trust" to be there with you to enjoy "the time and the sport."
The two attended Oconee County High School where they both played football and had their last touchdown connection prior to Saturday's 22-yard pitch-and-catch. Jake Johnson said Max Johnson hit him on a whip route during the 2019 Georgia state championship game, as part of a 60-catch, 845-yard, 14-touchdown sophomore season.
Both Johnson brothers arrived at Texas A&M prior to last season — Jake as a true freshman and Max as a transfer from LSU.
In five games last season, Jake Johnson caught just one pass for two yards but this season, he has hauled in 11 receptions for 90 yards and a score. Max Johnson played in four games last season, throwing for 517 yards and three touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury.
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Max Johnson was thrust into the starting role Saturday against the Tigers after quarterback Conner Weigman went down in the second quarter with a lower-leg injury. His status against Arkansas is unknown, so it is Max Johnson's team until Weigman can return.
After Jake Johnson scored, Brad Johnson allegedly ripped his shirt off in celebration.
"During the game I had no clue about it, but afterwards I heard a little bit about it so I'm sure they were proud," Jake Johnson said. "That was just instinctual and just kind of happened. I guess he was just proud."
With the Johnson family all in College Station, Jake Johnson said they went home after the game and celebrated how any football player who just set a career milestone would: with good eats.
"Mom, she cooked salmon. That's one of our favorites," Jake Johnson said. "We also picked up some (Raising) Cane's, so had some Cane's chicken tenders."
