Remember the story of the mouse who set the lion free from the hunter’s snare trap and proved to the lion that he was just as important.

Meet Harold “Bub” Johnson, the mouse with the lion’s heart.

Despite being 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds, Johnson has proven to be a fierce competitor on the football field as well as the basketball court.

Johnson will take his burning desire and heart-of-a-lion attitude to Kentucky Christian University after signing a letter-of-intent Thursday to play football for the Knights.

Johnson, a defensive back and running back for the Ironton Fighting Tigers, will shift to slot receiver in the Knights spread offense. He said the position will allow him to play despite his small size.

“It will get me matched up with a linebacker and let me use my speed and quickness to get open,” said Johnson.

“It’s going to be exciting. It helped that I was at Ironton and I was always going against bigger guys, and in the SEOAL they were even bigger guys. It’s going to be a different experience.”

The Knights initiated a football program in 2007 and broke ground on a new $1 million facility.

After talking with Ironton teammate Felipe Beach, Johnson said it was an intriguing challenge and both players signed Thursday with the Knights.

“Felipe told me about it and I contacted the coach and I liked what I saw,” said Johnson. “I like it because you get to start your own legacy. It’s something new. I’m always up to new challenges.”

Besides playing at the college level, Johnson faces another change with the spread offense after playing in the Ironton T-formation.

“I’ve been playing in the T-offense for 10 or 12 years. We ran it in grade school. It’s going to be exciting to try something new,” said Johnson.

Bub is the son of Aaron and Bridget Johnson of Ironton.