KFBCA Top 11: Eli Johnson

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams in early December, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Beloit offensive and defensive lineman Eli Johnson's capsule below. For a look at the complete 2024 KFBCA All-State teams click here.

Beloit senior Eli Johnson was a key cog in Beloit’s 9-3 campaign that included a deep run to the Class 2A state semifinals and a #3 ranking in the final Kansas Pregame poll for a deep Class 2A. The 6-6, 240 pound defensive lineman earned 2024 Sports in Kansas 2A Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to his KFBCA Top 11 nod.

Towering at 6-6, 240 pounds, Johnson finished the season with 68 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss, and 8 sacks, capping off a career that included 119 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He also anchored an offensive line that blocked for 1,900-yard rusher Joel Rexroat. 

In addition to his dominant impact on the field, he also showed an aptitude for leadership.

“Eli was a tremendous player for us and had an incredible impact on his teammates,” Beloit head coach Brad Gober said. “He was our vocal leader this fall and someone that our young guys looked up to. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a team captain, and he was the perfect example of what a team captain is.”

Johnson’s energy and athleticism made him a dominant force on both sides of the ball.

“Eli’s biggest strength as a football player was his endless motor,” Gober said. “He was gifted with a great frame and athleticism, and when you combine that with his motor, he becomes the special player that he was. He started both ways for us and never came off the field.”

One of Johnson’s standout moments in Gober’s mind came in a game in the second round of the playoffs against Halstead, a 28-0 victory for the Trojans.

“A play that comes to mind with Eli from this fall was his fumble recovery for a TD against Halstead,” Gober said. “While the QB was getting tackled he lost the ball and Eli was able to grab it and run it back for a TD. Eli’s relentless play allowed him to come from the opposite defensive end position and be in the perfect spot to pick the ball up and run,” Gober recalled.

Two of Beloit’s three losses came to league rival and eventual Class 2A champion Southeast of Saline. The Trojans fell 32-6 in a Week 3 game that was played over the course of two days to weather, but closed the gap significantly in the state semifinals, narrowly, losing 34-30 in a heartbreaking final seconds finish.

In addition to his football accolades, Johnson is one of the top multi-sport athletes in Kansas. Last year, he ranked second in the state across all classes in the shot put with a throw of over 59 feet. He also earned second-team 3A all-state honors in basketball, helping Beloit to a third-place finish in Class 3A.

“Eli will go down as one of the best three-sport athletes our school has had, and every accomplishment he has was earned through hard work,” Gober said. “He is the perfect example of what a multi-sport athlete is supposed to be. He is all in on each sport during each season.”

Johnson’s athletic excellence is part of a family tradition. Older sister Sydney, was a Division I thrower at the University of Missouri, uncle Jay Heidrick played basketball at K-State and cousin Creighton Johnson was a 2020 Kansas Shrine Bowl selection, just to highlight a few family standouts.

Younger cousin Griffin Johnson will look to carry on the family tradition after earning honorable mention all-state recognition along the Beloit offensive line this fall as just a freshman.

In the meantime, Eli Johnson will continue to throw down hammer dunks while trying to lead Beloit back to the state basketball tournament before looking to cap his senior track season with a state championship in the shot put ring.