Cullman offensive lineman Ben Johnson, right, readies to protect quarterback Ross Crocker, center, during a practice. Johnson, along with Daniel Hunter and Jacob Mills, will anchor the line in 2014.

There’s nothing small about big Ben Johnson.

Not his 6-foot-4, 280-pound frame. Not the way he pursues blocks and pushes opponents around on the offensive line.

And certainly not the size of the colleges that are recruiting him.

Johnson sauntered into Cullman High Wednesday for the first week of his senior year already wielding an offer from Division I Marshall. He reined it in at a Georgia camp over the summer, where representatives from the Thundering Herd noticed the hefty tackle, were immediately impressed and presented an offer “then and there.”

“It was pretty exciting,” Johnson said. “That was my first offer, and for it to be a D-I school, I thought that was pretty special.”

The bearded upperclassmen doesn’t currently have any other offers on the table but said he’s received some interest from Mississippi State, Jacksonville State and UAB. Johnson said he’s “really looking at Mississippi State right now or maybe even Auburn” because he’d prefer a school closer to home.

Don’t expect a decision to come any time soon, though. Johnson said he wants to enjoy his final year of high school and won’t start thinking about the future until the end of Cullman’s football season.

“I’m just keeping my options open right now, waiting to see all other offers rolling in and take my pick from the litter,” he said.

And if Marshall, a Conference USA institution located in West Virginia, ends up being the only one vying for his services?

“That would be fine with me,” Johnson said. “It’s a good school, a lot of nice coaches there, too. They treated me real good.”

Mark Britton wasn’t the least bit surprised by his hulking lineman’s big offer. The longtime Bearcat coach said Johnson set his goals extremely early and stuck to them, in the weight room and with dedication to a proper diet.

As for Johnson’s on-field exploits, Britton said the 280-pound tackle “runs like he’s about 255,” has “good lateral movement” and “great feet.” In a Cullman spread offense that includes a lot of bubble screens, Johnson is often counted on to sprint 12-15 yards out to the flats to block defenders in open space.

And in almost every instance, he does so successfully without breaking so much as a sweat.

“I think that’s where he caught a lot of peoples’ eyes, just his athleticisim,” Britton said. “He’s not just a big body — he’s very athletic.”

Johnson is also very experienced on the varsity stage, which will come in handy with a mostly unproven offensive line.

Johnson and center Daniel Hunter, both third-year starters, stepped up as leaders in 2013 and will have to continue to develop in the department for the program to maintain a winning tradition in its first season as a Class 6A school.

Jacob Mills adds a third senior to the unit, but the rest of the line will be filled by a combo of three sophomore guards who Britton sees potential in, just not a whole lot of experience.

The same goes for the youth-heavy Bearcats at several skill positions.

“This is going to be a good challenge for him because he’s going to have to grow as a leader, which in turn will help him at the next level,” Cullman O-line coach Brandon Dingler said of Johnson. “Some guys come from a school that already has established leaders. They don’t have to be the leader.

“Well, Daniel and Ben, they’ve got to be our leaders upfront.”

Like Britton, Dingler feels Johnson is up for the job. The assistant coach said the senior is not only equipped with obvious superior physical characterstics but a strong mental understanding of the game.

Circling back to the Marshall offer, Dingler views the opportunity as a positive affirmation of past accomplishments achieved by both Johnson and the Bearcats alike.

“Any kid you get to go D-I, it’s good for our program and even better for the kids. They get free college,” he said. “It’s a testament to the hard work they put in, and it just shows that we work them. The college coaches see that. They understand that they’re coming from a good program.

“We’re proud of Ben. He’s being rewarded for all his hard work the last four years.”

Cullman will open the 2014 campaign Aug. 22 at Arab.