Fresh faces

By Compiled by ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

NAME: Keyshawn Johnson

HT./WT.: 6-4; 212

COLLEGE: Southern Cal

POSITION: Receiver

NFL EXPERIENCE: Fifth year

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Johnson is all about winning titles, so his two NFL playoff games are most important to him. In a 1998 divisional playoff win over Jacksonville, Johnson had nine catches for 121 yards, a 10-yard scoring run, a fumble recovery and an interception.

GLORY DAYS: Johnson's most memorable games involved two city championships he played for at Dorsey High in Los Angeles. Dorsey won one and lost one.

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Asking Johnson about chance encounters with celebrities is like asking the Beatles about their No. 1 hits -- so many to choose from. He grew up in Los Angeles and played in New York the past four years so the list is long. To Johnson, Seinfeld is simply "Jerry" and Law and Order star Angie Harmon is just "Angie, Jason's (Seahorn) fiancee." He met the president on more than one occasion, and also had a cameo appearance on Veronica's Closet. When pressed to make a choice, however, Johnson picks Dr. Keith Black, the nation's top neurosurgeon who works at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Johnson recently threw a fundraising party for Black's work.

TO HAVE AN IMPACT: Johnson doesn't have to do a lot, just maintain the high standard he set as one of the league's best receivers, help shepherd Shaun King's development, block like a demon on running plays and give the offense an intensity and swagger it has lacked.

QUOTE: "If?" Johnson asked when someone began a sentence with If the Bucs make the Super Bowl ...

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