2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jeremiah Johnson, DB, Jacksonville University

• Name: Jeremiah Johnson
• Height: 5’10
• Weight: 185
• Position: DB
• College: Jacksonville University
• Twitter: @ralphlaurenjj

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

•  I’m from Jacksonville Florida. The thing I love about my city is that we have resilient blood running through us. As a kid no one gives you anything and you keep that mindset as you’re older. It allows you to depend on no one but to go work your butt off to get where you need to be no matter how many times you fail. I think the heart of my city is poured in “go-getters” blood.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

• Practice first- it’s cliche to say but you play how you practice, good practice habits is going to show up in those tough games and trust me the bad habits will show as well.

Film is second- there comes a time where between college and professional football, everyone is about equal in ability. But it’s those late nights studying your opponent and finding those tendencies & weaknesses to expose & abuse that will separate you.

Strength and conditioning is last- This can improve your game but let me tell you, not every big or fast player is good.

What do you worry about, and why?

•  I worry about not being successful and finding myself lost in this world. Not knowing what moves to make, etc. I try not to think like that much though because I know I’m blessed and highly favored. Meaning God got me in the journey of life.

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

•  Quick example: I remember my freshman year of college I was failing a course so I decided to just drop it. Later in my junior year I had to take the course again because it’s mandatory. So I did and passed the course, received my credit, and glad that’s finally off my shoulders.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  That I’m Athletic & they definitely let me know this all the time.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

•  Can’t really pinpoint one player. Played against some good ones though.

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?

•  Without football, I would probably be an entrepreneur.

Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?

•  Clean the room first

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

•  Honestly I’m choosing my family member. That’s the one I love and must go to war for. Their more valuable to me.

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

•  Luke Cage, he’s that dude. Big, strong, almost indestructible. He uses his powers to help out his community though which I love a lot.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

•  I think the biggest adversity in my life has been losing my cousin this year to gun violence. We always been tight. Although he was a week younger than me, he was like my big cousin, the one who looked out for me in highschool. Just never thought he’d ever be gone. This upcoming year I’ve decided to switch jersey numbers to #4 in honor of him (Terrance Kinard Jr.) and my other cousin (Johdeem Johnson) which passed away when I was about 9 years old. They both wore #4 in football. They pain never really goes away but in continuously dealing with it, I’ll tribute this season to them!

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  Can’t think of one at the moment

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• This last 2018 season against Marist. I was playing the dime position and coming on a blitz. Got to the backfield very quickly and the running back was going away from my side. He didn’t have a way to go so was about to try to reverse field. Soon as he tried to come back, I let him have it! Didn’t catch him how I wanted to but he couldn’t get up right away after that and pretty sure he didn’t play the rest of the game.

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  Derez De’Shon – “Beat The Odds”

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?

•  Competitiveness. Doesn’t matter who line up in front of me or heck even who getting to the car first. I love to compete. It’s like a satisfying feeling I can’t really explain.

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

•  My cousin Terrance Lamont Kinard Jr. Died back in January of this year from gun violence. Hurt me so much because we were very close and simple fact that he was a happy person. He always checked in on me and would hang out when he was back in Jacksonville from Texas. He could make you smile on ya worse day. Hate he won’t be turning 21 with me in August (we a week apart) but I’ll never let his name be forgotten.

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it?

•  Swift

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

•  Telvin Smith – Jacksonville Jaguars

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  Respected. Look at all the greats who every did anything successful, not everyone likes them but at the end of the day, what they did and how they did things had to be respected. For example people bad mouth Lebron all the time but look at him, this man worked his butt off to be as great as he is. So after all the hate, you still have to respect him for what he did and still doing in the NBA.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

•  Josh Gordon- he’s so talented and could be a great player if he could stay clean. I hate that he keeps going to his old bad habits. I feel as though it may be a deeper problem he’s suffering with than people realize & needs the proper help.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  Both. “You got to love to win and hate to lose” – Lee Rubin (former Penn State free safety)

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

•I can’t choose one person. Many people have come in my life for the good, the bad, & ugly. But each instance have made me not perfect but the progressing man I am today and for that I’m grateful to everyone who’s been apart of influencing me in some type of way.