Star on the Rise: Michigan Youth Quarterback Samuel Johnson III Turning Heads at Age 12

At 12 years old, Michigan native Samuel Johnson III has the mechanics and build of a high school football player. The 6th grader at O.W. Best Middle School stands at 5'10" and 130 pounds and has the arm strength and accuracy of a high school quarterback.

Johnson has been training with Quarterback University coach Donovan Dooley since he was 10 years old and he started playing football four years ago.

It isn't often that you come across a 12-year old of his size and talent under center, so we took the time to speak with SJ3 and find out what the secret to his success is. Here's our brief interview:

All-Out Blitz: Okay, first off when did you start playing and what got you into football?

Samuel Johnson III: I started playing four years ago. My dad and I started playing catch in the yard and I pretty much knew that I was a football player soon after that.

AOB: What is a typical workout like for you? Are there certain things you work on more than others?

SJ3: I work out about three hours a day, everyday. I mostly work on my footwork and passing, but also do a little bit of weightlifting.

AOB: What do you think is the strongest part of your game?

SJ3: The strongest part of my game is I think my footwork. Also my arm, I can throw (accurately) about 50 yards down the field.

AOB: Quarterback is the toughest position on the field. What do you find most difficult about playing QB?

SJ3: I think the most difficult part is taking a hit and being able to get back up and getting back to the huddle with your team.

AOB: Do you have a favorite football memory?

SJ3: Yes. Last year in the semifinal playoffs, I threw a 50-yard touchdown with three minutes left to win the game.

Johnson says he works with coach Dooley at QBU, the No. 9 ranked in quarterback training in the nation, around three days a week and his parents are very pro-active in helping him with his training.

SJ3's little league team is the West Seven Rams of the Detroit Police Athletic League, and his goals for the upcoming season include 35 TD passes and being named an All-American. Modeling his game after Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, SJ3's mechanics will only get better each year.

Consistently mistaken for older than he is, Johnson's size and arm strength has gotten him some early exposure among coaches and fellow players. He has already attended high school combines in his past, and thrown to receivers older than him. He will have a busy next couple of months, as he has received invites to Football University on June 7-9 and an Offense-Defense football camp on June 17-19. He received the invites just a week after attending the D-1 Sports Training Army All-American Combine one month ago.

Johnson runs a 5.87 forty yard dash, a 5.42 shuttle run and a 9.0 cone drill. His vertical jump is 9'46 and a 6'6 broad jump, all impressive numbers for a 12-year old sixth grade quarterback with four years under his belt.

Johnson was fortunate enough to spend some time with the New York Giants' second round draft pick, Johnathan Hankins, this past weekend. Hankins, the Ohio State defensive tackle, is a Detroit-native himself and also played his youth football in the Detroit Police Athletic League.

Though he's currently only 12 years old, there's no question that we could be watching a star on the rise if Samuel Johnson can keep up his growth and training, while maturing through middle school and high school. With a 3.86 GPA and a cannon arm, it would be in your best interest to remember the name Samuel Johnson III. He could find his way onto our television sets one day.

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You can follow Samuel Johnson on Twitter: @SJ3_theFuture

Notable NFL football players that played in Detroit's PAL: Hankins, Jerome Bettis, Larry Foote, Brandon Graham and Bart Scott.

Note: We do not own the above images. They were sent to us via email by Sam's parents.

Two-Way Star: Q&A Session with 10-year old Youth Football Player Samantha Gordon

We recently had the chance to talk with Samantha Gordon, a 10-year old youth football player who received national attention this past fall after tearing up football fields in the Salt Lake City area.

Samantha, 9 years old at the time, ran for 1,911 yards (8.2 yards per carry) and 35 touchdowns on 232 carries in her first season of playing football. Playing against all boy teams, Gordon played on both sides of the ball and, in addition to her impressive rushing stats, recorded 65 tackles. So when not running past opposing players, she was driving them into the ground.

Perhaps the most impressive part about Gordon's extraordinary season is that her true passion lies with the sport of soccer.

Due to her busy school and practice schedule, the interview below was conducted via e-mail:

All-Out Blitz: How long have you been playing football, and what was it that drew your interest in playing?

SG: I've been playing football since I was six.  At first I would play touch football during school recesses.  Then last year I decided to play tackle football.  I wanted to play tackle football after watching my brother, who is three years older than me.  After one of his practices, his coach said I should try playing.

AOB: You play both sides of the ball, but do you enjoy one more than the other? What do you like most about that position?

SG: I like defense more because I like to hit and tackle.  I also like it better because I don't feel like all the pressure is on me to stop the runner.  On offense, I felt a lot of pressure that if I didn't score, our team wouldn't win.

AOB: Do you ever get nervous going up against the boys that are much bigger than you, or do you simply approach it as a challenge?

SG: I don't get nervous going up against boy that are bigger than me because I'm faster than them.  The only thing that made me nervous is catching the snap.  We did a shot gun formation and sometimes the snaps would be high or low so I was always worried about catching the snap.

AOB: I know soccer is your first love, but do you have any plans to continue playing football too?

SG: I just looked at my highlight video again today and I really miss playing.  I'd like to play today!  But I was told by my soccer coaches that they have tryouts for ODP this fall, which is for the youth national soccer teams, and if I want to make the roster I should probably start focusing on soccer.  I've thought about playing flag football instead.

AOB: You got to experience what it's like hanging out in New Orleans for the Super Bowl, and were even seen on television sitting next to commissioner Roger Goodell during the game. What was that experience like?

SG: During the Super Bowl I was watching the game because I'm a big niners fan.  I was getting upset because they were losing.  I really wasn't too interested in all the famous people in our suite, I was interested in the game.

But before the game I got to go to a VIP tailgate with live alligators, fortune tellers, lots of food, and lots of famous football players. We even got to go to a concert.  That was a lot of fun.  The night before the Super Bowl I got to do a skit on the NFL Honors Award Show with Alec Baldwin and the commissioner.  I got to wear a dress from Oscar de la Renta.  That was awesome too.

And then the day before that I went to the media center and met a lot of famous people, like Jim Rome, Clay Matthews, Miss America and a bunch of others.  I also went to the NFL Experience which had a lot of events like a 40 yard dash, football throw, and tons of memorabilia.

AOB: Better experience and why: Super Bowl or spending a day with Team USA's women's soccer team?

SG: It's a tie. The USA soccer team was awesome because I got to practice with the team, got my own jersey with my name on it, and met the entire team.  I really dream of playing for Team USA when I grow up.

I also liked going to the NY Giants vs. Saints game and touring the NFL Headquarters.  At the game, we sat in the commissioner's box and ate at the commissioner's club and it had a giant candy buffet, fancy food, and football food like hot dogs and popcorn.  The NFL Headquarters would be a really cool place to work.  Instead of carpet, it had turf.  The tables looked like football fields with lines on them and they had all the Super Bowl rings and memorabilia everywhere.

Going to the niners practice and game was also very fun.  I got to meet the team, throw the ball with the players, got my own jersey and an autographed ball. I got to lead the team in a cheer at the end of practice. At the Monday Night game, I got to go on ESPN with Steve Young, Stuart Scott, and Trent Dilfer.  Then at halftime they showed my highlights to the entire crowd and introduced me out at mid-field.

AOB: What do you friends at school think of all your recent publicity and success?

SG: A lot of my friends don't know most of the things I've done because they don't watch a lot of the programs I'm on.  I get a lot more attention actually from older boys who are my brother's age because they are a more into football by that age than some of the kids my age.

AOB: Do you have any advice for other girls your age that have interest in playing organized football?

SG: My advice is simple: play!  I know that a lot of girls I play soccer and run track with are just as strong, aggressive, and fast as me.  I think a lot of girls could do just as well if not better than me.  I'd love to see some highlights next year of other girls who tried playing football.

AOB: Thank you for your time!

We may not be fortunate enough to witness too much more of Samantha's presence on a football field, but maybe one day we'll see her win some games with the U.S Women's National Team at the World Cup or Olympics.

So don't forget the name Samantha Gordon.

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For those that missed it, here's her 2012 highlight video:

You may follow Samantha and her publicist Ariane Sloan on Twitter:

@Sam_Gordon6

@Sloan_AM

Note: We do not own the above images. No copyright infringement intended.

Person to Watch: Eight-year old Quarterback Sensation Daron Bryden and his Trick-shot Video

An eight-year old quarterback by the name of Daron Bryden, current starting QB for the Manchester Sentinels youth football team in Connecticut, has made recent news with his 30-second "trick-shot" video uploaded by his father, Craig.

Since it was uploaded in mid-February, the video has received over 36,000 views and he has made numerous appearances on ESPN and local news stations in his area.

In a sense, the eight-year old has already made a name for himself as a top quarterback in his pee wee league, and thanks to his personal quarterback coach Travis Meyer, who is a coach at Five Star Quarterback (camp used to train and coach young quarterbacks), Bryden has developed the needed footwork to be a successful.

Bryden started playing the game of football two years ago, according to his father, when he was looking for a sport for him to participate in. He quickly fell in love with the game, and Craig says (according to quotes I found online) he asked to practice more and more each day. Some days, playing football is all he wants to do.

Bryden's Sentinel teammate, 10-year old receiver Joseph Colon says he is one of the most accurate quarterbacks at that age, and that is clearly demonstrated in a couple of the videos uploaded to youtube.

Before too long, Bryden will be sought out by middle school teams, high school teams and, eventually Colleges and Universities. The recruiting may even start before he hits high school if he continues to improve his game over the next several years.

To follow Bryden and his training, you can check out his blog here on blogspot (http://daronqb.blogspot.com/), follow him on Twitter (@DaronQB), or check out the youtube channel that his parents set up to upload videos of his training and game action.

Keep up the good work, Daron!