MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —A WVU economics major from Baltimore does not know what the future holds for him when it comes to Esports but does know he has something cooking at the present time.
Noah Johnson took home the Level Next Madden National Championship in the college realm last week and is competing in a professional tournament Wednesday.
Johnson, who was WVU’s first Esports recruit, recently appeared on MetroNews ‘Talkline’ to discuss his career so far after making a statement with the national championship.
“I started playing with my dad growing up,” he said. “I figured out these tournaments online and I started playing in them. I started doing well in these online tournaments and next thing you know I’m playing in these high-level tournaments.”
Johnson plays Wednesday in the MCS (Madden Championship Series) in one of the series’ four major tournaments. He’s in the final four, with $75,000 on the line. He is the No. 4 ranked Madden NFL 22 player in the world.
Johnson won $25,000, a belt and ring with his collegiate national championship win over Weber State. He advanced to the winner’s bracket as a Mountaineer with a last-second field goal to beat Weber State, 17-14.
Johnson then beat Weber State again in the championship game, 23-21, by converting a 4th and 10 play to maintain possession of the ball and run out the clock for the win. In the semifinal, Johnson beat Oregon 31-14.
“I could have punted the ball and tried to play some defense but I took a risk and went for it on 4th and 10. I found DK Metcalf open, he caught it and that is all that matters,” Johnson said of his gaming decision.
He added that playing Madden and Esports takes skills such as being able to adjust mid-game and staying on your toes. He said that he watches opponents’ past games on Youtube and scouts their tendencies before kickoff.
WVU said Esports is currently holding tryouts for competition to start in the spring for Call of Duty, Rocket League and Valorant.
“Esports could be huge. I am on the roller coaster of it and I’ll see where it takes me. I honestly have no clue,” Johnson said.