Guard Zion Johnson Was Late To Football But An Early Draft Pick For The Los Angeles Chargers

Good thing Zion Johnson got on the bus and he listened to its driver. Otherwise Johnson wouldn’t be the Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round pick.

Johnson, the Boston College guard selected 17th overall by L.A., was late to football but not for his after-school transportation.

Johnson was on the Riverside Baptist golf team in Upper Marlboro, Maryland when he boarded his ride home and the suggestion came that he should try football.

“That was definitely part of it,’’ Johnson told the media at the Chargers facility on Friday in his first visit to California. “It was really him and my mom.’’

It was baptism by fire when Johnson switched sports his junior year. But it was clear by his athletic body and allegiance to the weight room that he had the tools to excel.

“I was on the fence about it,’’ the now 6-foot-3, 312-pound Johnson said about ditching his sticks. “I kind of went back-and-forth for a while because I hadn’t played. I was undersized and I really didn’t know a lot about the ins-and-outs of being a football player.’’

From there he landed in Southern California where In-N-Out is king, with an opportunity to help anchor the Chargers’ line which protects star quarterback Justin Herbert for the foreseeable future.

The Chargers present is boasting of a roster which his loaded with skill players on both sides of the ball. L.A. general manager Tom Telesco has acquired the flash with Johnson being an addition to the foundation.

“Guards are people too, right?” Telesco said. “I know it’s not the sexist pick in the world, but he’s tough, he’s durable, he’s smart.’’

Telesco also took to Johnson’s story as well as his credentials of being an All-America and All-ACC honoree. Washington’s path to the NFL was filled with potholes, but he persevered.

“You like to see prospects that have had to handle tough situations,’’ Telesco said.

Johnson checked off that box time and again. New to football as a junior in high school, he went on to play at Davidson at an non-scholarship level.

Johnson shined there and then transferred to Boston College, where he earned his stripes again and molded himself into being the second guard selected in the draft.

“He’s just a really well-rounded player — run game, pass game,’’ Telesco said. “We will see in training camp, but I don’t think it should be a big learning curve for him.’’

L.A.’s second pick came in the third round when it took Baylor cornerback JT Woods (79th ovearll). Last season Woods’ six interception tied for the lead among FBS players.