This is a feel good story that I couldn't help but write about. Not only is this a courageous man, but he was one of my favorite players on the USC Trojans roster and I watched him a lot since I am a huge Trojans football fan.Stafon Johnson's life almost ended on September 25, 2009 when the bar accidentally slipped out of his hands while he was bench pressing. Even with a spotter, nothing could be done as Johnson crushed his vocal cords, voice box and larynx. For those of you that don't know about weight lifting, the bar itself is 45 lbs and Johnson was benching 275 lbs.
Johnson was rushed to the hospital and underwent seven hours of immediate reconstructive surgery and three more surgeries afterward. He then spent 16 days in the hospital to recover. He could not speak for two months and is just getting the ability to do so back.
The thought of football kept him going. Now he will try to prove he can play in the NFL for the Titans, who gave him an undrafted free-agent contract Saturday after the draft.
"And I am more determined than ever,'' Johnson said. "I feel if I can go through something like that, if I can go through a situation so close to death like I went through, nothing else should hinder me from trying to reach my goals and make my dreams come true.
"I want to show Nashville what I am made of. I want to show everyone I am still a good football player, someone who will stand tall and big for their city.''
Johnson's voice is raspy, almost like he's straining to make himself heard, but he said there should be no concerns about his health. Doctors cleared him to play in the Senior Bowl and he was invited to the NFL Combine.
The Titans are thin at running back after the trade that sent LenDale White to the Seahawks on Saturday, yet Johnson faces a challenge to make the roster. There were 14 backs drafted, and while he heard from eight to 10 teams after the draft, there are questions about whether he's NFL material.
"Considering what Stafon Johnson has been through, I am not going to bet against him being able to make that team," said Rob Rang of nfldraftscout.com. " … Stafon Johnson maybe doesn't have any one characteristic that really jumps off the board, but he has good grades across the board. So that is maybe one of the reasons he didn't get drafted. But it's also one of the reasons he could stick.''
All Johnson wanted was a shot.
His college career ended with 1,552 yards and 19 touchdowns. The consensus was he'd never play again.
"The first thing for me was to get my health back and get back on my feet and go from there,'' Johnson said. "When I felt good about that, then it was focusing on the Combine and focusing on pro day and then the draft. Now, I am glad to have it all over with and now it is time to play football.''
Going undrafted was a disappointment, but it hardly fazed him in the big picture.
"I have had a chip on my shoulder since the first day God brought me out of the dead and gave me the tools and power to get back on the football field again,'' Johnson said. "I want to show everybody my passion and my drive to be a football player is still intact.
"I want to show everybody I am the same running back as I was before I got hurt and I have well recovered from my injury. I am going to compete and try and do everything I can to get on the football field.''
With the Titans, he certainly has an opportunity. Behind NFL Offensive Player of the Year Chris Johnson is an unproven group.
Coaches have raved about Javon Ringer's progress, but he got only eight carries as a rookie last season. Alvin Pearman was signed last fall primarily as a return man.
Stafon Johnson stands 5-10½ and weighs 215 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds at the NFL Combine. Mike Detillier of M&D Draft Report said Johnson has some limitations but has the potential to be a good NFL back.
"He is not a real good receiver coming out of the backfield. And he doesn't have great foot speed,'' Detillier said. "He earns his keep by being that tough inside runner, and being a real good red-zone, short yardage runner. If my medical staff cleared him, he's going to make that roster because he is a tough guy and is a great competitor and right off the bat you're going to see that. … He's going to be a tough cut, I'll tell you that.''
Johnson will report to Baptist Sports Park in Nashville this week with the rest of the rookie class. After what he experienced, he takes nothing for granted. Not one day. Not one snap on the football field.
His dream scenario is a Johnson & Johnson backfield with the Titans for years to come.
"He is one of the best running backs in the league right now and I respect him so much. We could always be a 1-2 punch, that would be great,'' Stafon said of Chris. "I think with my style and his, we could be a great together.
"But that is showing no disrespect to any running backs there. I know I have to work. I am just a little guy trying to compete for playing time and make some things happen like everybody else. But I am going to give it my all, I promise you that.''
If this kid had been picked in the draft, I just might have cried a little bit.
I love this kid! I watched him play for four years at USC where he learned how to be the ultimate team guy as he was in a RB rotation all four years that usually consisted of about five to seven guys, but when he was called upon, he did his job well.
He has incredible heart and now a fantastic story to go with it if he can stick with the Titans or any other team in the NFL. I'm pulling for him big time. Go big Stafon!!
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