Now that you know where we are going in this course, grab your pencils because its time for a pop quiz.

What Hopewell Junction, N.Y., native was named Rensselaer Male Athlete of the year, was selected to the All-Liberty League First Team in soccer his first three seasons, was named Liberty Rookie of the Year his freshman year, and was voted on to the NSCAA All-Region Second Team and Third team, respectively, in his junior and sophomore years?

No guesses? OK, as any good professor, I don’t want my students to fail, so here comes clue round number two.

The senior chemical engineering major has only missed one practice in four seasons as the anchor in the center of the men’s soccer team’s defense, and after completing his duties on the soccer field he quickly joins the RPI men’s basketball team on the hardwood.

Give up yet? The answer to anyone familiar with Rensselaer athletics is obvious: Joe Johnson. His combination of speed, agility, and strength make him quite possibly the most athletic man you may ever meet.

“First off, Joe is just an unbelievable athlete,” Rensselaer men’s soccer Head Coach Adam Clinton said. “He comes to the table with talents coaches can’t teach.”

The most notable of these “talents” is Johnson’s intrinsic motivation that has provided him with the work ethic and competitiveness to be successful in whichever sport he has chosen to play.

“His work ethic is as close to perfect as can be,” Clinton, who took over the program Johnson’s freshman year, said. “Joe motivates Joe. The game motivates Joe. The competition motivates Joe.”

The competitive atmosphere is something that drives Johnson, which is why he refused to specialize in one sport. He wanted to compete during every season, a decision that possibly cost him a Division I scholarship in soccer.

According to Clinton, Johnson’s contributions on the defensive side of the ball were crucial to the soccer program’s return to respectability. In his freshman season alone, the Rensselaer men’s soccer team’s goals-against average improved drastically, thanks in large to Johnson’s determined efforts.

“I was fortunate to have Joe for my first four seasons,” Clinton said. “You only see players like him once maybe every 10 years. We are not going to be able replace him.”

Johnson was recruited for soccer, basketball, and baseball at Rensselaer and eventually caved, giving up baseball his freshman year. He also tried to leave the hardwood his sophomore year, but found himself compelled to return for his junior season.

“I loved every sport I have played,” Johnson said. “I never wanted to choose one. I never wanted to give the others up … I love to play every sport. If I wasn’t playing [soccer and basketball] I’d be playing something else.

Johnson certainly seeks out challenges, but then amazingly manages to thrive in them. Playing two sports and maintaining his near-4.0 grade point average can push Johnson to the limits at times, especially as he tries to transition from soccer to basketball.

The toughest part of the transition, Johnson admits, is not necessarily refurbishing his shooting or ball handling skills, but it is adjusting to the particular nuances of each sport. Johnson mainly thinks defense as a backer in soccer, but in basketball he has to become an offensive threat as well.

Despite all the factors working against Johnson, men’s basketball Head Coach Mike Griffin is not surprised he manages to pull off a successful transition every season.

“He not only has the athletic ability to succeed, but he’s got an athlete’s head,” Griffin said of Johnson. “He thinks like an athlete. He’s competitive so he can shift gears that way.”

During the transition, Johnson typically relies on his defense, an aspect of the game that is totally dependent on work ethic, an area in which he excels.

“In both [soccer and basketball], I’m seen as a defensive player,” Johnson said. “Defense is all about how hard you want to work. Some of it isn’t even athletic ability, it’s just straight mental [concentration] and heart.”

This year, Griffin will need Johnson to speed his transition, as Johnson, who was the Red Hawks’ sixth man off the bench last season, will need to take on larger responsibilities on both offense and defense.

“We will be playing a lot more man-to-man, which is one of Joe’s fortes,” Griffin, who is also hoping to get 10 to 12 points a game from Johnson, said. “It’s conceivable to have him guard our opponents’ best player.”