Southern Arkansas University Athletics

When Little Rock Parkview's Sam Goodwin took over as head coach of the Mulerider Football program in 1979, he brought a familiar face with him to Magnolia as former Pulaski County standout and Parkview graduate Bernardi Johnson joined Goodwin and began a career that staked the Little Rock native as one of the all-time great defensive backs in program history. 
 
Johnson played under three different head coaches during his time as a Mulerider and enjoyed three winning campaigns as Southern Arkansas totaled 21 wins in his four seasons which included the 1979 and 1980 campaigns under Goodwin, the '81 season under Jimmy "Red" Parker and his senior season of 1982 under the direction of Steve Arnett.
 
As a sophomore, Johnson quickly established himself as one of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference's top defensive backs as he led the league in interceptions with six totaling 109 yards and a touchdown which came on a then-school record 92-yard interception return on the road at East Texas State. It remains the second longest in school history and the longest by a Mulerider in a road contest. His 109 return yards that season remain tied for seventh all-time and were the third-most in a single season at the conclusion of the '80 campaign. He finished with 43 total tackles, including 32 solo stops, while also ranking third in the AIC in punt return average.
 
Evidently, Johnson provided his own stability in the secondary, after switching over from wide receiver as a freshman, as he starred in a defensive backfield that included fellow SAU Sports Hall of Famer Dennis Woodberry and on a defensive unit that included fellow Hall inductee Doug Carter. In his three seasons as a starter, Southern Arkansas ranked in the top three of total defense in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference each year with SAU boasting the top defense in the league during his final season of 1982.
 
Johnson's impact as a Mulerider was immense as he would claim All-AIC honors after that sensational sophomore campaign as well as following his junior and senior seasons. He was named an NAIA All-District 17 honoree in '80 and '82 and received honorable mention following the 1981 season. Johnson became the first Mulerider defensive back to receive national postseason acclaim as he earned NAIA All-America honors during his time at SAU.
 
At the end of his career, he ranked second all-time in program history in total punt returns (36) which remains the seventh most by a Mulerider. He was responsible for 11 interceptions totaling 139 yards and the aforementioned touchdown and he recorded over 320 all-purpose yards.