Highlands’ Montrell Johnson looks forward to future at Saint Francis

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 4:55 PM

Montrell Johnson said hard work and perseverance helped in his pursuit of an opportunity in college football at the Division I level.

A dream became a reality Wednesday morning when the Highlands senior finalized a decision to attend Saint Francis with the hopes of getting on the field and making an immediate impact this fall.

“I knew I always had to work as hard as possible to be prepared to live out that dream,” said Johnson, a multiyear starter at wide receiver and cornerback for the Golden Rams.

“It also is exciting to be able to be that leader and an example to show others that they can also have that same chance.”

Johnson joined hundreds of other football players from around the WPIAL and City League in putting pen to paper with Division I or Division II programs Wednesday on the first day of the national letter of intent regular signing period.

Johnson gave a verbal commitment to Saint Francis about a month ago.

“There were still a lot of programs reaching out, but I just wanted to stay committed to Saint Francis,” Johnson said. “They seem to love me, and I want to go somewhere that I am loved.”

Johnson reached out to several college programs throughout the region.

“Saint Francis coaches happened to like my film,” he said. “(Wide receivers) coach (Brian) Wright said they would love to have me join the program, and they offered me.”

Johnson said Saint Francis is a great fit for him.

“It is close to home, and the coaching staff is amazing,” he said. “They recruit well, and the players are disciplined in everything they do. That’s what you have to have to become a winning program. That’s what I want to be a part of.”

Johnson expects to begin his freshman season with the Red Flash on the offensive side of the ball at receiver.

“I’ve always been an underrated receiver since I was in eighth grade,” he said.

“I think I will eventually make it back to the defensive side. I just want to help them however I can, whether that is on offensive or defense.”

Johnson fronted a talented receiving corps this fall with 30 receptions for 526 yards — a 17.5 yard-per-catch average — and eight touchdowns.

Defensively, he was just as effective, if not more. He finished with more than 30 tackles and tallied four sacks and a fumble recovery.

Johnson was selected to the Allegheny 7 Conference first team at defensive back.

Johnson said the transition from Highlands to Saint Francis is, in a way, bittersweet.

“If I could restart this year and go back, I would want to do some things differently to help us have a better ending to the season,” Johnson said. “It’s been a special time at Highlands with a lot of great memories, but I am excited for my future at Saint Francis.”

Highlands finished the 2024 season 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference. The Golden Rams closed the regular season with three straight wins and then throttled Southmoreland, 56-20, in the WPIAL first round.

Highlands saw its season come to an end in the quarterfinals at the hands of Imani Christian. The Golden Rams led the No. 1 seed by nine entering the fourth quarter before the Saints rallied for a 31-17 victory.

Highlands coach Matt Bonislawski spoke highly of Johnson.

“Montrell is a great kid who works really hard,” Bonislawski said.

“I know he’s excited for the opportunity to not only play Division I football but to also go to school and get a great education. He has been a huge asset to our program for the past couple of years. With his speed and quickness, he can be an asset to whatever they need on either side of the ball.

“Not a lot of people gave him a chance, but he just kept working and proved everybody wrong.”

While Johnson signed at the Division I level, the Alle-Kiski Valley is home to more than a dozen headed to Division II schools including Riverview’s Alex Schultheis (Clarion); Fox Chapel’s Kristofer Bandurski (Cal, Pa.); Burrell’s Talin Newcomer (Charleston, W.Va.); Deer Lakes’ Zach Grant (Edinboro); Highlands’ Menage Lucas (Cal, Pa.); Plum’s Noah Odom (Ashland), Dorrian Anderson (Millersville), Josh Curry (Ashland) and TJ Futules (Ashland); Kiski Area’s Carson Heinle (Findlay), Landon Kucic (Cal, Pa.) and Cam Murphy (IUP); and Valley’s Zayaan Ferron (Clarion).

Lucas earned Most Valuable Offensive Player honors for the Allegheny 7 Conference after a monster season in which he became just the 21st quarterback in WPIAL history to throw for 1,000 yards and also run for 1,000 yards in the same season. He finished with 3,046 combined yards and accounted for 45 offensive touchdowns.

“With his athleticism and size, he’s 6-2 and 215, and his ability to run really well, he will bring a lot to the Cal U program,” Bonislawski said. “I think he will be an H-back or tight end to start. Menage has come a long way. With his maturity and his mentality, he gets it. He is very coachable.”

Ferron was a core member of the Valley defense and was second-team All-Allegheny 7 Conference. He had a successful senior season after missing almost all of his junior year because of an ankle injury.

The Valley News Dispatch Offensive Player of the Year, Leechburg’s Jayden Floyd, also was celebrated Wednesday for his decision to play in Florida at NAIA Webber International.

Floyd joined some exclusive company this past fall as he became just the third player in WPIAL history to have two seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 passing.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Valley