He’s a dominant force in the game.

So it’s no surprise he’s been nominated for a 2018 Canadian Football League player award.

Veteran defensive tackle Micah Johnson is up for Most Outstanding Defensive Player, following an incredible campaign. Thus far, he’s recorded a single-season high 13 sacks, 25 tackles including two tackles for loss, one special-teams tackle, one interception, two knockdowns and a team-leading three forced fumbles.

“Honestly (being nominated) is a crazy feeling,” Johnson said following the announcement Wednesday. “It wasn’t something coming into the season that I was thinking was one of my goals.

“I’ve been through so much adversity; there have been so many ups-and-downs throughout my career. Coming up here and tearing my ACL in my first two years, it was just that grind, so much behind the scenes when there aren’t any cameras around. You have to be so self-motivated to get through a lot of those low times, so for that to be paying off right now at this point, it’s huge.”

Johnson been a powerful presence on the field since joining the Stamps in 2013, and his second-place ranking in the CFL sack race has no doubt helped propel him into contention for the annual honour.

“Being a defensive tackle you could play a great game, do everything you’re supposed to do and more, and not get a sack sometimes. So it’s just the fact that the sacks swung my way this year is the biggest thing that contributed to my nomination. There’s a lot of good interior D tackles in this league, a lot of guys have been rushing well, it’s just the sacks have been coming my way. So that’s what people have seen, but I don’t think necessarily as a player I’ve done much different in my style of play.”

His coaches, however, say there’s a lot more to the recent nomination than his sack count. It was the hard work and growth demonstrated by Johnson over his six-season tenure with the Red & White.

“He came in as an outside linebacker and we’ve moved him inside, and he’s been able to flourish,” said defensive coach DeVone Claybrooks. “The best part is, most of the D tackles in the league have been playing it their whole career and he’s only been playing it for three-or-four years getting his hands dirty in the ground so it’s a testament to his work ethic.

“He’s got so many leadership qualities and capabilities. And he’s become a student of the game, when he first got into the league it was just about getting in, playing, and being an athlete. Now he’s put in the film-work and study time to understand how his opponents are going to try to block him and those types of things – that’s why his game has evolved.”

The nomination also brings a good chance to keep the Most Outstanding Defensive Player title in the Stampeders organization for back-to-back years.

It’s an exciting prospect for both Johnson, and Alex Singleton – who took home the hardware in 2017.

“He’s the reason I had any opportunity last year,” Singleton said. “To have him be up this year is awesome, he’s getting the credit he deserves for what he does. He’s been the guy that’s played in front of me for three years, and Micah is the best player on the field whenever he’s out there. He’s an animal, second in the league in sacks at D tackle, and that’s probably the hardest position to get sacks at so it’s really cool to see.”

“We’d love to keep it in here man, it’d be awesome.” Johnson added.

And with the recent acknowledgement, Johnson says you can expect an even better player.

“You want to think highly of yourself as a player, I think everybody does. When you start getting the recognition from your peers and people who watch the game, know the game, and who are around the game, I think it’s fun.

“But for somebody like me it just makes me want to work even harder though. I’m going to continue to work and see how great I can become, see what I can do, because I still don’t think I’m my best yet.”