The youngest son of Reverend Willie and Ida Johnson, Marcellous was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia. He excelled both in the classroom and on the gridiron in High School which garnered the interest of Cumberland College, now the University of the Cumberlands, Coach Tom Dowling and eventually led to a scholarship on the football team from 1986-89. During his career at Cumberland, Marcellous started in 35 of 41 games and was 2 nd on the sack leaders list. His awards and honors include; All-District 32, 1988, First Team All-Mid South Conference,1988, Best Defensive Lineman, 1988, Don Hanson Gazette 2 nd Team All-American, 1988, 2 nd Team All-Mid South Conference, 1989,and Team Captain, 1989.
In 1998, Marcellous and his teammates took a place in Cumberlands’ Athletic Hall of Fame. His 1988 team posted an undefeated regular season, claimed the Mid South Conference Championship and participated in the football team’s only post season berth.
Upon graduation from Cumberland with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991, Marcellous spent one year coaching at Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee as a Graduate Assistant during their inaugural season of football. He has spent the last fifteen years teaching and coaching in Coweta County
School System in his hometown of Newnan, Georgia. As a coach and teacher, Marcellous continues to develop football players in leaders and scholars, many of whom he recommends to Cumberland. Two Newnan football products are on the current Patriot football team, on of whom is his cousin.
Marcellous has been married to his wife, Vanessa Johnson, for ten years. They have five sons, two daughters, one granddaughter and have been foster and adoptive parents to local children since 1998.
