Two years ago, Calvin Johnson was suiting up as a true freshman. He had only played in three road games, and he had four wins as a wide receiver at Georgia Tech.

His fifth road game was a visit to Raleigh where his Yellow Jackets played at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Johnson only had three catches for the game — one in the first quarter and two that led to a Tech victory — one catch coach Chuck Amato still remembers.

“Great catch, wasn’t it?” Amato said Tuesday after practice. “Great catch.”

In the fourth quarter, with his team down 14-10, the Jackets had their backs against the wall. It was a third-and-four situation on N.C. State’s 43-yard line.

Then, Johnson made a play. A play ESPN called the No. 2 play in college football for the entire year.

Quarterback Reggie Ball went back to pass and then threw a rocket behind Johnson. But the receiver, while running in one direction, reached back the other way and pulled the ball in with one hand, keeping the drive alive.

Later in the same drive, Tech was in another third-down situation — this time a third-and-11.

Once again, Johnson made play.

He hauled in a 27-yard pass from Ball — setting up the Jackets on the Wolfpack’s four-yard line. Tech would score a touchdown only a few plays later, taking the lead for good at 17-14.

The Jackets would notch on another touchdown to win the game 24-14.

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Amato said there isn’t a better player in the nation.

“Calvin Johnson is probably the best football player in the country,” Amato said. “He’s big and fast and his quarterback can get the ball to him.”

Last season, with State leading 17-14 and less than a minute remaining, Johnson had a chance to put the game away again. On first-and-goal on the Pack’s two-yard-line, Ball went back to pass.

He found Johnson cutting across the end zone and the ball hit him in the hands. But then senior cornerback Marcus Hudson upended Johnson, causing him to drop the ball.

Then, junior Garland Heath looked up just in time to see the ball in the air. He intercepted the pass with only inches of space in the back of the end zone. The interception wrapped up the game for State.

Amato said the play balanced out the catch that Johnson had only a season before.

“It all evens out,” Amato said. “Nobody had a vision of Marcus Hudson pulling it out and Garland Heath intercepting it.”

But Amato said he is well aware of what the junior receiver can do.

“He’s got it all. He’s got it all,” Amato said. “And he makes things happen.”

And there isn’t one who can do it better.

“He’s as good as there is, he’s got it all,” Amato said.

Senior Staff Writer Dennis Burton contributed to this article.