WILLIAMSBURG, Va.— Making big plays on the football field is nothing new to Khylil Johnson. The only difference now is he is doing it at the next level in green and gold for William & Mary.
 
The 5-foot-11 freshman wide receiver has already put his playmaking ability on display for the Tribe through five games this season, leading the Patriot League and ranking sixth in the FCS in yards per reception (22.2) and hauling in a pass of 40-plus yards in four different contests. Just last week, Johnson caught three balls for a season-high 92 yards against ACC opponent Duke, including an explosive 63-yard grab to set up William & Mary's first-quarter touchdown.
 
"They let me know from the get-go they wanted me here and I belong here," Johnson said when asked about being trusted to make plays as a freshman. "I took it as like, it's time for me to step up and show them what I am capable of."
 
Despite already establishing himself as a key cog in the Tribe offense, Johnson's prospects to play in college weren't always as clear.  That was until the Pittsburgh, Pa., native crossed paths with former eight-year NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith at a 7-on-7 event in Delaware.
 
After Johnson made some spectacular plays to lead his team to a win over the squad Smith coached, the NFL vet inquired about which colleges were looking at Johnson. Shocked to learn that he didn't have any offers, Smith quickly began sending out his highlight tape on his behalf.
 
W&M was one of the schools that saw Johnson's pure athletic ability and made an offer.
 
"William & Mary was the first to offer me off the rip … and that was that," Johnson said.  
 
When asked about the happenstance of Smith noticing him and sparking his recruiting interest, the domino effect isn't lost on the budding Tribe star.
 
"I had heard of him as an NFL player, but he had never seen me, never heard of me. He just caught me in the right moment," Johnson said. "From there he was letting me know when schools wanted to reach out to me. He wished me luck at William & Mary and is proud of where I'm at now."
 
The way in which he was discovered is not the only interesting aspect in Johnson's path to Williamsburg.
 
Despite being from Pittsburgh, the 28th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, Johnson attended the smallest school in Allegheny County, Cornell High School, where total enrollment for grades nine through 12 is around 160.
 
The small class size allowed him not only the opportunity to be a multi-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball but fostered a mindset of doing whatever it takes to win and being able to play multiple positions.
 
On the diamond, Johnson played almost every position during his time at Cornell, from pitcher to catcher, infield and outfield. That versatility translated to skills on the gridiron during a time where many kids specialize in sports at a young age.

"Playing all three sports helped a lot with hand-eye coordination and with making cuts … like baseball playing shortstop, you have to shuffle your feet to get to the ball. Same thing at running back. You have to shuffle your feet to jump cut to different places, and then with basketball everything is so hand-eye coordinated," Johnson shared. "That all helped correlate to the game I play today."
 
When it comes to football specifically, most of Johnson's work came out of the backfield as a running back, but beginning his sophomore year at Cornell, he often shifted out wide to catch passes to show off his speed and ability to make defenders miss. The Tribe coaching staff recognized that speed and pass-catching ability and decided to make him a wide receiver.
 
Johnson, who will be studying at W&M with the long-term goal of working in physical therapy, gives credit to his high school coach, Ed Dawson Sr., for having the foresight to make him as versatile as possible.

"My high school coach always wanted to make sure that I can be used anywhere, so if I got to the next level, he wanted to make sure that if they needed me somewhere on the field, I'd be able to fulfill the position and the role," he said.
 
That ability has already paid dividends this season for the Tribe.
 
When W&M had some absences at running back last week against Duke, Johnson slid in and took a pair of handoffs from the backfield. He has also provided a solid boost on special teams, returning 10 kicks for W&M this season for a total of 225 yards, helping him rank fourth in the Patriot League in all-purpose yards per game (107.8).
 
Unsurprisingly, he views his role on special teams no different than any other role he has filled in his athletic career.
 
"When I'm back returning, my goal is always to make sure I make something happen. Johnson said. "Get us in a good field position, possibly score a touchdown, just do whatever I can to set the team up for success in scoring and winning games."
 
With the season nearing its halfway point, Johnson is in position to challenge a record held by a past Tribe player who went on to make his name in the Steel City: former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and current NBC analyst Mike Tomlin. Tomlin set W&M's single-season record for yards per catch in 1992, averaging 25.5 yards per reception.
 
And while Johnson admits having his name in the conversation with a Super Bowl Champion coach is flattering, winning and helping the Tribe in any way possible is still at the top of his mind.
 
"I'm a very competitive guy. I like to win. I mean, I like to do what I can to win, and I'm going to always give 100%," Johnson said. "You'll never see me on the field giving you anything less than 100%."