Former UCF center Jordan Johnson has been named the Male PlayMaker of the Month for February by the Institute for Sport & Social Justice on the UCF campus.
Since day one at UCF, Johnson established himself as a leader and role model within the Central Florida community. He prides himself on being a servant leader, especially with young people. Johnson regularly visits local Orlando and Seminole County elementary schools, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the Ronald McDonald house.
Johnson, along with his UCF football teammates, served as leaders for a toy drive this past Christmas that collected more than 500 toys and raised more than $3,000 for local teenagers. Johnson also volunteered time during the holiday season for the Knight of Giving event where he assisted 17 local homeless elementary students in shopping for toys and necessities.
Among Johnson's other leadership and community outreach activities include Relay For Life to raise money for cancer research, #HashtagLunchbag to feed the homeless in downtown Orlando, serving as a "buddy" (mentor) for children and adults with special needs at the Central Florida Dreamplex Football Clinic for disabled athletes and volunteering for Habitat For Humanity.
Johnson led the charge for all UCF student-athletes to complete a combined 5,000 community service hours in this 2019-20 academic year. In the process he has become a UCF role model for many children in the Central Florida community and a true leader for UCF athletics.
Johnson graduated in December with a final 3.38 grade-point average and a Human Communications degree. The Jacksonville, Florida, product was a two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference honoree and also was UCF's nominee for the William B. Campbell Award, the National Football Foundation's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy which goes to the top football scholar-athlete in the country.
The ISSJ PlayMaker of the Month award program recognizes the academic achievement and community service of student-athletes that reflect the Institute's core values. Many times, student-athletes' work in the classroom and within the community goes unnoticed. PlayMaker of the Month gives coaches, administrators, teammates and faculty the opportunity to nominate and recognize those student-athletes who exemplify the Institute's motto of "Changing Lives Through the Power of Sport." Nominees must be current/eligible student-athletes in good standing at their respective institution, carry a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and actively participate in community service, social change advocacy or volunteer services. The female PlayMaker of the Month for February was DePaul senior basketball player Kelly Campbell.
