As Michael Johnson slipped on his new Georgia Tech cap, a stern look of discomfort crossed his face.

“It’s a little too tight,” Johnson said with smile.

Johnson’s new lid may be a bit close fitting, but the school promises to be a perfect fit. The former Dallas County High School tight end/defensive end signed his scholarship papers Wednesday morning to play football for Georgia Tech beginning in the fall.

The signing took place in the Dallas County High School library and included family members as well as the school’s basketball and football coaching staffs and principal Susan Jones.

The ceremony also kicked off National Football Signing Day – the first day high school students around the nation could officially sign college football scholarships.

Johnson also will have the option of playing basketball at Georgia Tech beginning next season. He averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas County as a junior and is one of the Hornets’ top scorers this year.

“It’s truly a blessing when you have a kid with this caliber of ability,” Dallas County football coach Rick Bush said. “It’s even more of a blessing when you have the family to go with it.

“We love Mike here and we’ll miss him dearly,” Bush continued. “We’re proud of Mike and his accomplishments.”

Johnson decided to go with Georgia Tech after receiving scholarship offers from Southern Mississippi, Clemson, Louisville, Purdue, Mississippi, Vanderbilt, Georgia, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Dartmouth.

Johnson credited the Hornets’ coaching staff and prayer for helping him reach this point.

“I just love to play,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’m going to do anything but get better. When I’m on the field, I want to make something happen.”

Johnson said Georgia Tech took the lead in his college search in July when he attended a football camp at the school.

“They told us Saturday that someone in the group would be offered a scholarship,” he said. “I showed them I could run. Everyone they put on me was being used. They offered me the scholarship on Monday.”

Johnson’s parents, Samuel and Thomasene Johnson, said their son has blossomed into not only an outstanding athlete, but also a fine person during his time at Dallas County High School.

“Michael has really matured under the leadership of Susan Jones and coach Bush,” Samuel Johnson said. “He’s learned to focus on his goals and he’s striving hard to accomplish those goals. Both Mrs. Jones and coach Bush pushed Michael to take everything to a higher level.”

Michael’s mother agreed.

“Michael has always been a hard worker,” she said. “They were able to get him to dig a little deeper. Mrs. Jones has always been a supporter of Michael.

“Michael has a lot of determination,” Thomasene Johnson added. “If he sets his mind to something, he’s going to go far. That’s the way we raised him.”

Dallas County defensive coordinator Eric Hiott said he has always been impressed Michael’s work ethic and dependability.

“His work ethic is like that of no other kid I have ever coached,” Hiott said. “There have been times when I’d have to run him out of the weight room.

“Mike is so responsible,” Hiott added. “I forget sometimes that he’s only 17 years old. If my son becomes half the kid Michael is, I’ll be happy.”

Johnson said he plans to major in either chemical or biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech. He currently holds a 4.26 grade-point average at Dallas County.

Johnson added that he looks most forward to facing the University of Miami Hurricanes next season. The Hurricanes beat Georgia Tech, 27-3 this season.

“You always want to play the best,” he said. “Miami has linebackers that run like safeties and safeties that hit like linebackers.”