Sandusky's Gant, Johnson using football to help reach life goals

SANDUSKY — Donovan Gant and Dale Johnson are preparing to begin college football careers in the fall. The Sandusky seniors also are looking beyond football, which will help pave the way for life after sports. Gant will join the Ohio Dominican University team as a defensive end while Johnson plans to play quarterback for Wayne State University in Detroit. The two Blue Streaks standouts recently had a celebration of their choices at Sandusky High School, surrounded by friends and family. Afterward, they discussed playing football at the NCAA Division II level, as well as some promising futures. Gant, a second team All-SBC Lake Division defensive lineman last season, says his versatility will help him in college. "A lot of teams have a defensive end that's stronger and holds the edge and one to get a sack," he said. "I can do a bit of both." The 6-foot-3, 253-pound Gant made 48 tackles and led Sandusky with five quarterback sacks last fall. In many ways, it was astounding that he even played after tearing an ACL in his knee while playing in a pickup basketball game last January. "I was playing basketball with some friends and landed wrong from a dunk," Gant said. "I made the dunk but it all went south after I landed." Gant made a quick recovery. "My surgeon told me I was crazy, but there was nothing that could keep me off that field," he said. "He cleared me at six months and I played the whole season. There were times that I had doubt, but every step of the way was worth it, with God by my side, my family by my side my teammates cheering me on." That experience shaped Gant's future goals. He wants to major in exercise science. "I want to be an orthopedic surgeon, just like the one who saved my knee," he said. "I want to save other knees and shoulders." Ohio Dominican, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, finished 5-5 last year. Sandusky graduate Dominik Richardson, a defensive lineman who played in nine games for ODU as a freshman in 2025, had some influence over Gant's decision. "He told our head coach and defensive coach about me and they haven't left me alone since," Gant said. "I loved it down there so I guess you can say he recruiting me. "When I was on my visits it felt like they really wanted me there. The location, lots of things to do, lots of interning and educational opportunities. There's nine hospitals in the area so I get to intern pretty much anywhere. On top of that, 10-minute drive from my sister. Whenever I'm hungry, you know." Most of Gant's scholarship comes from academics. "I held almost a 4.0 throughout my entire high school career, so I received most of my scholarship from academics and like 15 percent of it from football," he said. He said it's "an amazing feeling" to embark on a college football career. "One percent out of all high school seniors go on to play Division I football," he said. "A total of 1.2 percent play Division II and 1.3 percent play Division III. It's surreal to be included in that 3 percent that go on to play in college." Johnson is looking forward to helping Wayne State bounce back from an 0-10 season that led to the firing of its head coach. "It was my first offer and it felt more genuine whenever I visited there," Johnson said. "Recently we had a coaching change and I was questioning things. I talked to the new staff and they were great. "I definitely want to come in there and take somebody's position, for sure." The 6-6 quarterback threw for 1,313 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions last fall. "The quarterback is the leader, somebody you can talk to," he said. "For me, it's always been special because it relates to the outside word. You have to study coverages and tendencies. I feel that quarterback has been a position for me because I've always led by example." Johnson led Sandusky's basketball team with 15.5 points per game this season and was a first team All-SBC Lake Division selection. He considered pursuing a college basketball future, but now is 100 percent focused on football. "They care about who I am and they want to push me to where I need to be," he said about Wayne State's coaching staff. "Some people get to college and don't work as hard, but they see potential in me and want to push me. "I'm ready to move on and experience college life. I want to enjoy myself and at the same time work as hard as I possibly can." Wayne State competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Johnson plans to major in social work. "I want to be a social worker and be an advocate for young kids, adults, people in community centers and hospitals," he said. "I just want to help people out. It's about the whole world. We all have to strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Plus, not a lot of young black men do it, so it's great when you see young black men doing things like this." Johnson said he wants to continue growing as a person. "I want to thank God because God is the head of my life," he said. "There were times I doubted myself, but everyone around me kept me going. It's not the end of my story. I'm ready to keep growing as a person, a football player, maybe a father when I get to that age. "I want to set a good foundation for young kids coming up and be someone people can lean on and talk to."