By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kareem Johnson assumed his college athletic career was over when he walked off the floor at Nationwide Arena in Columbus last month after the University of Cincinnati basketball team lost to Illinois in the NCAA Tournament.

But Johnson may not be finished yet.

At the urging of basketball coach Bob Huggins and athletic director Bob Goin, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound senior from Eufaula, Ala., has turned his attention to football.

"I've got another year of eligibility, so I could use part of my education for football and see where it goes from here," Johnson said.

NCAA rules permit Johnson, who has completed his basketball eligibility, to play one season of another sport. UC's Rodrick Monroe made the switch from basketball to football in 1997, was drafted in 1998 by the Dallas Cowboys and ended up playing five years in the NFL.

Johnson, who wears jersey No. 96 in practice, started out as a tight end, but was quickly moved to defensive end and says that's where he feels the most comfortable.

"I'd rather play defense," Johnson said. "On offense there's more stuff to pick up. You have to learn all the plays. I'm only going to be here for a year."

Johnson approached Bearcats football coach Mark Dantonio after a scrimmage April 8 and told him he was interested in trying the sport. Dantonio welcomed him aboard.

"He hasn't played football since early in high school, but he's got toughness," Dantonio said. "We'll see where he's at during the end of spring practice and see what he wants to do and try to bring him back. I think that he would really make a big leap in terms of what he could do if he went through summer camp from day one."

Johnson started 28 games for the basketball team at center last season and averaged 5.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. He is the second UC basketball player to try his hand at another sport this spring.

Forward James White, who has two years of basketball eligibility remaining, is a high jumper on the UC track team and qualified for an NCAA Regional meet with a jump of 6-10 3/4 in his Bearcats debut at the Miami Invitational.

Ted Gill, UC's defensive line coach, has been impressed with Johnson.

"The guy picks up things real quick," Gill said Monday. "When he understands the speed of the game is a little different and the muscles that he'll have to use will be different, I think he's got a chance.

"He was there at 7 o'clock this morning waiting for me at my meeting. When a guy's there early in the morning like that I'm interested in coaching him."

It remains to be seen how committed Johnson is to football. But he says he's serious about it and so far has given every indication that he intends to stick it out.

Johnson was on the field for about 10 plays in a scrimmage last Saturday and made two tackles.

"I'd like to keep him for the long haul," Gill said. "I'm intrigued that he's out there and I'm excited that he might have a chance to help us."

E-mail: bkoch@enquirer.com

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