MINNEAPOLIS — It was the play of the day in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl match up between Minnesota and Auburn.
Gopher senior Tyler Johnson made a spectacular one-handed grab for a big Gopher touchdown.
Johnson’s star has never shown brighter, but while many see Johnson as this year's Outback Bowl MVP, a young man on the cusp of an NFL career, North Minneapolis High School football coach Charles Adams sees a young man who lives for his city.
“He’s such a phenomenal player and kid,” Adams says.
In his 11-year career Adams has worked with hundreds of kids at North Minneapolis High School, but few, if any, have set a greater example than Tyler Johnson.
"The decision he made to stay home for one, to play for the gophers, and then to get his degree, that was basically the stamp what it means to come from North Minneapolis,” Adams says.
“That's the kind of the culture I wanted to create for these kids."
On the field, Johnson led North high to the state championship in 2015, but behind the scenes there were talks for years about closing the school down.
"He was a major part of rebuilding and rejuvenating what's going on in North Minneapolis,” Adams says.
“Being a great athlete and great kid, that helped us out a lot at the school.”
And now a player from North Minneapolis is catching the nation's eye.
With a one-handed-catch that had SportsCenter tweeting "Are You kidding?"
Those that know him say Johnson's star will only continue to rise in the world of football.
Johnson has voiced his intent to enter the NFL draft this year.
NFL scouts expect him to fall somewhere within the first three rounds of the draft.
So, it's very possible that we'll continue to hear his name in the world of football for many years to come.