Dillon Johnson is about to start training camp with the Tennessee Titans. The former St. Joseph Catholic School star is set to leave Greenville on July 20. Before leaving, he is spending each day with his longtime trainer Coach Justin “Boogie” Levy at the Greenville Christian School field house. The two are hard at work.
“Coach Levy basically created me,” Dillon said. “I started working out with him when I was a sophomore in high school and he made a promise to me that he was going to make me the best player I can possibly be. So I am always coming back here to be with him. He knows how much I appreciate him. I wouldn’t be anywhere in the world but here. He is my brother. I love him to death. He has been here since Day 1.”
Rewind a year ago and Dillon and Coach Boogie were at the exact same place, and thanks to their hard work, Dillon transformed himself into one of the biggest stars in college football in the one year he spent at the University of Washington. Dillon helped lead the Huskies to the national championship game against Michigan. He finished the season with1,195 yards and 16 touchdowns. His play in the college football playoffs was truly inspiring. Dillon fractured his foot in the semifinals against Texas in the Sugar Bowl, but sacrificed his body to help his team win.
“Sometime I look back at last year and you can’t do nothing but just be amazed. I put all my marbles in one little cup and I put it on myself traveling across the world to Seattle not really knowing the environment I was going into and I bet it on myself. The coaches at Washington gave me the opportunity to do what I can do, and I did that. I was blessed with the opportunity and God put me in that position to do it. “
Dillon knows now that his heroics with the Huskies came at a cost. He said he believes this is the main reason that he went undrafted in the NFL Draft. He signed with the Titans as a free agent.
He is ready to prove his critics wrong once again.
“It definitely drives man. It definitely motivates me. Looking back I was so upset and so mad, but I know it is just part of the business. It is kind of crazy how the business works. I had an injury toward the end of the year, and it kind of put me in a hole. I didn’t realize that it was that big of a hole because I still played at a high level the last four or five games with that injury. I didn’t know that was going to lead to that. But it happens. It is what it is.”
Dillon said his foot is about 95 percent right now and only getting stronger. He hopes to join a Tennessee Titans backfield that will look a little different this season after the loss of Derrick Henry, who is now with the Ravens. Along with Dillon, former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard is expected to join the Titans’ backfield.
Dillon has already been to Nashville for minicamps with the Titans and has found a place to stay. He said he has learned a lot about what it takes to make it as a pro.
“It is a dream come true seeing all the guys I used to look up to. You are used to watching those guys on TV and playing those guys on Madden. Being in the presence of those guys is an honor.
Meeting Deandre Hopkins is a great honor. Just to watch him and watch how he carries himself is a true honor to be around.
“I think the biggest thing is how smart the guys are in the NFL. Everybody out on the field is smart, very very smart. I think that is the biggest difference in terms of college and the NFL. But, I haven’t really gotten a taste of the speed just yet. We have been going three-fourths speed. We haven’t gone full speed, but we are about to put on the shoulder pads and really start flying around so that will be fun.”
Dillon said he believes, through hard work and sacrifice, he will make it at the NFL. No matter what he will always be proud to be a son of Greenville.
“Greenville is always going to support guys with good character and guys that come back and support the city. I am definitely supported by a lot of people in Greenville, and I appreciate all of them because I wouldn’t be here without them and there support of me. I am blessed and honored.”
