VYPE recently traveled out to Spring Branch ISD and Memorial for the Spring 2022 Media Day.
VYPE's Matt Malatesta caught up with Jeremy York of Memorial to talk about the season and more!!
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Benjamin Davis senior safety Keithas "Pop" Johnson
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“They call me ‘Pop’ because I’m smaller in size, but I can hit really hard,” Johnson said. “I throw my whole body into a tackle or when I’m making a hit, and it makes that ‘POP!’ sound. That’s where the name comes from.”
The nickname is fitting in more ways than one. Johnson has become one of the Falcons’ most disruptive defenders, leading the team last season with 52 tackles, seven passes defended, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. Suffice it to say, Pop is a legitimate game-changer on defense — a reputation that has carried into 2026.
His production, however, stems from a mindset Johnson has cultivated long before he became a bruising presence in the Davis secondary.
“My whole life, I’ve been small, so people keep telling me, ‘Pop, you gotta have that dog mentality,’” Johnson said. “I learned quickly that if I don’t have that dog mentality, I’m not going to be very good at this sport. So even with my size, I don’t care — I’m still going to prove I’m better because I push myself to my fullest potential.”
That mentality has become part of what separates Johnson. Rather than viewing his frame as a limitation, he has turned it into motivation, embracing the physicality and aggression required to make his presence felt from the back end of the defense.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Interestingly enough, football wasn’t always the plan.
“I didn’t really care for it at first, but after sticking with it for a few years, I started to appreciate the toughness that comes with it,” he said. “I love the physicality of the sport. It makes you feel alive.”
That toughness has since become a defining part of Johnson’s identity — and something he hopes can help elevate the Falcons beyond what they accomplished a year ago.
Davis went 7-4 last fall, sharing the district title before falling to The Woodlands in the opening round of the playoffs. Now, Johnson believes the next step won’t necessarily come from adding more talent, but from maximizing the talent already in the room.
The featured standouts of the 2026-27 Benjamin Davis Falcons football team.Dana Strange (VYPE)
“With this group, I think it’s going to come down to how well we’ve bonded together,” Johnson said. “We definitely have the talent, so if we can come together as a unit, the first or even the second round won’t be where we max out. This is a great squad, so it’s time for us to go further.”
To Johnson, going further means more than simply advancing another round. It means proving that size doesn’t define a defensive back, that toughness can’t always be measured by a frame, and that sometimes the loudest impact comes from the player who refuses to play small.
VIEW THE VYPE ALDINE ISD 2026 FALL/WINTER MAGAZINE
VYPE takes a look at the Top 5 recruits who are heating up with offers and with schools starting to make a strong push over the past few weeks.
Top 5 Recruits Heating Up
No. 1 - 2028 Shadow Creek WR Jaylen Addai
By Jackson DiPasquale
Jaylen Addai has been a star since he arrived at Shadow Creek and now in his junior season, he is ranked as the number one player in the state of Texas and number one wide receiver in the country. Addai holds 48 total offers to date and has seen his recruitment really heat up as schools are starting to emerge from the pack.
Alabama, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M and Notre Dame are all schools heavily in the mix for Addai and will all look to take a top position heading into the offseason.
No. 2 - 2028 Waller QB Tristin “TK” Gaines
TK Gaines is the top 2028 quarterback prospect in H-Town and has proven that so far this season leading Waller to a 6-1 record, throwing for 1,999 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 521 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Gaines went into the season holding 23 offers and since August, he has gained 4 more offer from the likes of West Virginia, Missouri, LSU and Florida State. Oregon, Houston and LSU are the teams to watch early on as a commitment could be coming in the near future.
No. 3 - 2029 Klein LB C’Ivion “Cash” Hines
Cash Hines came on to the recruiting scene over the offseason, picking up his first offer in May. He now holds 15 offers and has picked up 5 offers during the season from the likes of Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and SMU to name a few.
Ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the country according to 247Sports, Hines will be one of the most sought after recruits in the country and should see his offer list only grow more and will be a player to keep an eye on over the next two years.
No. 4 - 2028 Willis LB Nazeree Guy
Photo provided by Nazeree Guy
Nazeree Guy is a player that has quickly emerged as one of the top junior prospects in H-Town as prior to his current junior season, he held 3 offers… That is no longer the case as Guy has gained 14 offers since the start of the season and holds 17 offers overall from Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Nebraska and TCU to name a few.
Is Guy the next big-time star out of Willis high school? That looks to be the case and expect to see more offers roll in for the talented linebacker following a full season of varsity tape.
No. 5 - 2029 Cypress Falls WR Karzell Davis
By Jackson DiPasquale
Karzell Davis saw his recruitment take off this summer as he picked up 20 offers from June to now. Davis holds 24 offers as of today from the likes of Miami, Oregon, LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss and most recently picked up offers from Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and Arkansas. Davis is emerging as one of the top wide receiver prospects in not only Houston but in the entire state of Texas.
Through the first seven games of his sophomore season, Davis has recorded 695 all purpose yards with 5 touchdowns receiving and his play on the field should only garner more attention from Division One programs. Expect to see his offer list grow over the offseason after an impressive sophomore season.
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