NFL Draft Diamonds Free Agent Interview: Jeremiah Johnson, Defensive Back

Hello, I am @jrberendzen on Twitter and this is one of my free agent interviews where I ask very deserving free agents questions about the players themselves and about what a team would get in these players. All of these players should get picked up by NFL, CFL, and XFL teams and get a shot at being career football players. So I hope you all read this interview and follow Jeremiah’s journey on his Twitter.

What sets you apart from other defensive backs?

My versatility, because I can play multiple positions such as nickelback, free safety, strong safety and cornerback.

What is your typical training routine?

I typically go into the gym 3 days a week and the other 4 days I’m on the field working on my technique and when I’m in the gym I do alot of explosive type training and stability.

What do you think are the keys to success on the football field?

Consistency, also just knowing your assignment and when you have an actual game doing to know your opponent and communication.

What past or present NFL coach would you want to learn from the most and why?

Mike Tomlin, because he consistently has winning seasons and I would love to be around that atmosphere and I feel like he knows alot and he keeps the locker room in check so I feel like that would be a great coach to be around.

What type of energy do you bring onto the football field?

Competitiveness and excitement.

What should we know about Jeremiah Johnson the person?

Over the last year I spent training for an opportunity to play but not actually being on the field which was frustrating and challenging I was forced to find out who Jeremiah the person was as I dealt with reality of possibility never playing again. For that I’m grateful because my identity was based on being a football player at first. But now I know who I am. I’m a kid from the north side of Jacksonville, FL who experienced a lot of ups and downs throughout my life. I quickly had to get comfortable with adversity through my 23 yrs of life whether it’s been dealing with bullies in elementary school; choosing to stick to school and sports as I saw friends turn to a life of crime; dealing with the emotions of seeing my mother fight chemo and overcome cancer; not ever really thinking I’d go to college for free only to receive a full ride scholarship just soon before classes would start; losing multiple close family members year after year throughout college; hitting a low point in my life where I turned to weed to cope and having being caught by campus security(may have saved my life because it was a turning point for me); going through a pandemic and having football taken away for a year to push me to start my own brand called “IWWG” meaning “I walk with God.” I’m thankful for all my experiences cause it made me who I am today and through it all I learned something. So today Jeremiah Johnson is a man of integrity, I don’t need the eyes and validation from others to keep doing right. I’m a man of faith. My trust, my hope, and direction for my life is centered around my relationship with God and I’m proud of that. I just want to continue to be the best version of myself I can be and continue to motivate anyone who hears my story to keep fighting and keep moving forward.

What do you love about the game of football?

To be honest the part that always sticks with me is the bond and relationships that you have with your teammates in the locker room. And I feel like football is the game of life. It teaches you how to overcome adversity and deal with it.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I try to pull something positive from every situation and learn something from if and evolve and adapt.