FEATURED: Jawuan Johnson
11/26/2018 1:40:00 PM | Football
By Julie Doles, TCU Athletics Communications Intern
Coming out of high school, Jawuan Johnson dreamed of playing college football at Texas Christian University. However, after battling injuries and not receiving an offer, Johnson went to play linebacker at Northern Illinois University instead.
After graduating from NIU with a degree in communication and film studies, Johnson had an opportunity to bring that old dream into fruition and become a graduate transfer at TCU.
This dream didn't come easily, being a grad transfer comes with great challenges. Johnson had to learn a new playbook, adjust to the prolific spread offenses of the Big 12, adapt to a new environment, and build relationships with new coaches and teammates.
Johnson was welcomed into the TCU linebacker and defensive corps with open arms.
"Guys like Ty (Summers) and Ben (Banogu) made it easy… it just felt like we belonged as a group," Johnson said. "Ty, Alec (Dunham), and Arico (Evans) – we all just fit in. We have the same personality and we just clicked."
Not only did they make him feel like part of the Frog Family, but they also helped him learn Head Coach Gary Patterson's extensive defensive playbook.
"Periods where I was just down and out, learning the playbook and getting angry with myself because I like to be perfect in everything I do, Ty would always be there," Johnson said. "He was always there for me helping me the whole way."
Even during practice when Johnson was on the sidelines, Summers and Dunham would explain the plays they were running. Throughout the season they encouraged him, helping him learn the playbook.
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Chad Glasgow has also meticulously pushed Johnson to perfection and the next level.
"Every play, even if I do something right, he (Glasgow) fixes the smallest thing… he always says go 100 percent," Johnson stated. "Coach Glasgow pushes me to perfection."
The coaches have taken him under their wing, helping him adjust to the Big 12 spread offenses.
Throughout all these challenges, Johnson has grown and learned valuable lessons. As a 22-year old "free agent," it was time for him to make tough choices on his own.
"I feel like that was the hardest challenge for me through it all, saying, 'Okay now I'm gonna do this or that,'" he said. "I was always told what to do but now that I graduated, I had to start making adult decisions about my next steps."
And he chose to chase his dreams and move closer to his family in New Boston, Texas.
While attending NIU, his mother was only able to make it to one game. It was important to Johnson that his family could watch him play. Now that he lives closer to home, his family attends every game and acts as his biggest cheerleaders.
It's extra special for Johnson to see his nephews in the stands.
"They point like, 'there goes Jawuan,'" he said. "I know I'm a big role model to them, so they love seeing me play. It's special that they get to watch me."
Johnson isn't done chasing his dreams and inspiring others. After his time at TCU, Johnson has aspirations of entering the NFL to perfect his craft at the next level.
