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It was another hot, humid sunny summer day in the Mississippi Delta. I was making my rounds and was at the Greenville Christian School field house to do a story on the Saints football team.
Coach Justin “Boogie” Leavy — one of the top conditioning coaches in the Delta — was busy training a group of young men in the Delta heat. The kids seemed to range from age 7 to 17. They were doing a drill where they were running short sprints and then doing pushups. The players were drenched in sweat. It didn’t seem easy.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone who looked like the Incredible Hulk. He had a huge, chiseled physique, and he was doing the same drills as all the other kids. He was bigger, faster and stronger than all of them, and he kept encouraging them the whole way. There couldn’t have been an ounce of fat on his body.
Then, I looked closely and realized who it was. It was former St. Joseph Catholic School star Dillon Johnson!
As a player on the St. Joe Fighting Irish, Dillon had always looked like a great athlete. But, this summer he was on a totally new level.
I shared a few words with Dillon that day. We talked about the new football team he was transferring to — the Washington Huskies — and I wished him well.
As I drove home, it occurred to me just how much work Dillon has put in to chase his dream of one day being an NFL football player. Just like his former St. Joseph teammate, Trey Benson.
I came to the Delta Democrat-Times in 2018 during Dillon and Trey’s senior season at St. Joseph. The two players were already a big deal. They had big dreams, and we had big dreams for them.
We still do.
Fast forward to this recent Saturday afternoon and it is clear that these dreams may be stronger than ever.
Because of their hard work and their ability to fight through adversity, both Trey and Dillon have turned themselves into star players on two of the top college football teams in the country.
Last Saturday afternoon, in the biggest national game of the day, Dillon Johnson helped lead the Washington Huskies (now ranked No. 5 in the country) to a 36-33 lead over their rival Oregon Ducks. Dillon led the Huskies with 100 rushing yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. While Dillon may have grown in size and stature, he still runs the ball the same way. He is full of aggression and gives 100 percent each play.
Dillon is used to the big spotlight. Before transferring to Washington, he was contributor for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the SEC. It must have been hard for Dillon to leave his home and the South, but it appears he definitely made the right decision in picking the Huskies. His NFL dream now seams more than likely.
Meanwhile, Trey Benson’s story may be an even bigger feel good story. Trey, who played at both O’Bannon and St. Joseph, was considered, perhaps, an even bigger high school recruit coming out of Greenville than Dillon Johnson. Trey always had the size, speed and power that made college coaches drool.
Trey began his college career in the Pacific Northwest with the Oregon Ducks
But, because of a serious knee injury that could have ended his career, he barely got to play at all with the Ducks.
But Trey never stopped dreaming. He transferred to the Florida State two years ago, and this year he is having a breakout season. Two weeks ago against Virginia Tech, Trey totaled 200 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, good enough for a new career high in rushing yards per game. The FSU Seminoles are currently ranked No. 4 in the country, and Benson is a big reason for that.
Trey’s current success is such a delight to see. He is a young man who never gave up on himself and is now reaping the rewards of all his hard work.
I know that there is a lot of negative things people can point out about Greenville and the Delta, but that doesn’t mean we all can’t shoot for the stars.
The dreams of both Dillon and Trey are coming true right before our eyes. We should all dream big too.
