Johnson savoring UA experience
The first time Tyron Johnson touched the football he knew he was in
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love with the game.
The five-star wide receiver still remembers that first play like it was
yesterday. He was lined up in the slot. He took the ball on a reverse. Then he
did what he has done so many times since -- he found the endzone for a
touchdown.
There was no looking back, he found his passion.
"It was just the competitiveness. It was so much fun," Johnson said. "Whenever I
touched the ball I felt like I could do something special with it. When I first
touched the ball I scored. Then it really got in my head I could really do
something with this."
Something special is exactly what Johnson has done.
He has electrified audiences from the youth leagues of New Orleans to his high
school days at Warren Easton. He has gone from a local standout to a nationally
known football star. On Thursday, he added Under Armour All-American to his
growing list of honors as he was presented his jersey in front of friends,
family and mentors.
"It means a whole lot because I have a lot of coaches and players who believed
in me," Johnson said. "If it wasn't for them to put me in position to be great
then I wouldn't be here."
Johnson first approached his high school coaches as a freshman to let them know
of his bold goals. He wanted to be the best high school receiver in the country
and he wanted to achieve All-American status. It may have been the first time he
told his coaches about his goals, but the conversation was not the first time
achieving such lofty goals entered his mind.
"I had a lot of people around me who told me I could be great. I was just
young," Johnson said. "My ninth grade and sophomore year I was just young and
playing the game, but I was playing at a senior level. They said by the time you
get to be a senior you're going to be one of the greatest in country."
Reaching national status however has taken more than talent. It has taken drive,
it has taken determination, it has taken diligence and sacrifice. He has spent
countless hours training on the field, in the weight room, and in the classroom.
He grew up idolizing Randy Moss and his highlight reel catches. Now he studies
film of Odell Beckham, Calvin Johnson,
Brandon Marshall and Cordarrelle Patterson. He has pushed himself to the
limits and beyond both mentally and physically. Talent was key, but hard work
and perseverance were just as important.
The work has not always been easy or fun, but he has never had a problem staying
motivated.
"I just stay humble and my family teaches me to stay humble," Johnson said. "I
lost two brothers to the streets. One is in jail and one is dead and I don't
want my mom to have to go through that again. So I just stay focused and stay
humble and try to achieve my goals so I can provide for my family."
Johnson continues to reach and achieve new heights each and every day, and he
knows the work has just begun. The future is bright, and Johnson has his pick of
college options across the country.
He has taken an official visit to Texas Tech, and he plans to take
official visits Oklahoma State and Auburn after the season. He
has not narrowed his list too far at this point, but he does have a few schools
currently on his mind.
"I have a tie of leaders with Texas Tech and Auburn. That's two. And I like
Oklahoma State and Oregon as leaders," Johnson said. "All of those
schools throw the ball. Texas Tech throws the ball more than all the schools
probably but other schools are on a bigger stage. Like Oregon and Auburn are on
a bigger stage and I like the bigger stage."
He continues to take his time with the recruiting process, and he maintains his
focus on his current goals. Next up are the playoffs, then he is pushing for a
state championship finish. After the season he is looking forward to reuniting
with and competing against friends from across the country at the Under Armour
All-America Game.
Johnson has put in the work and he is grateful for the opportunities now
presented to him. He has given football plenty of time and energy, and the game
he loves has certainly given back over the years.
"Football definitely helped keep me out of the streets. If it wasn't for
football I don't know where I'd be right now," Johnson said. "When I picked up
football I wasn't in the streets. I was at practice and I had games, so I
couldn't be on the streets.
"Football was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Johnson can be seen playing in the The Under Armour All-America Game at
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Jan. 2, 2015. The game will be
televised live on ESPN2.
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