Morgan State University Athletics

No. 25 Darius Johnson,
Junior Defensive Back
Baltimore, Md.
Major: Biology
 
Darius Johnson has been a talented and steady player for the Morgan State football team ever since joining the squad as a true freshman during the 2015 season.

The 6-foot, 185-pound member of MSU's secondary unit was among the league's leading defensive backs. He completed the 2016 campaign ranked 6^th on the team in tackles (37) and posted an interception in 10 games of action.
 
This season, the Baltimore (Md.) native is expected to continue to provide leadership and big play ability as a standout for the Bears defensive unit.

"Darius Johnson is a young man we have big expectations for," said MSU head coach Fred T. Farrier. "He has lettered each of the past two seasons and we expect him to grow into a leadership role in our secondary this year. He's a very smart player and he is able to understand our defense and our opponents and put himself in great position to make plays.  I am excited to see him mature this year and really become that coach on the field for our defense."

Johnson and the Bears open the 2017 season at Towson on Sept. 2 and the home-opener at Hughes Stadium will be against Albany on Sept. 9. Morgan State's annual Spring Game is slated for a 12 noon start on Saturday, April 29 at Hughes Stadium. Admission is FREE.

Student Life:
What is the best time of the year on campus? Fall is probably the best time of year on campus. Not only is it football season, but it's not too hot or too cold. I like it just in the middle.
Why did you choose MSU? I felt like it was the best opportunity to build something really special; a new culture, new way of being. This school has so much history it felt only right to build on top of it, but just in a different way. And doing it in a place I was born and raised here in Baltimore with the support of my family and friends, I felt it would make it that much more special.
What is your major and why? Biology. I always had dreams of pursuing something in the medical field, a doctor of some sort. And with a biology degree those doors definitely open up to me a lot more.
If you had to give an incoming student advice, what would it be? Manage time well. You soon see hours go by like minutes, and each moment of time should be consumed by doing something that'd help better what you'd like to do academically because these are the years your setting up for the rest of your life. And with some time extra you can have a little time for fun.
Describe your first day as a student at Morgan. My first day at Morgan as a student, I'd say it was definitely a wake-up call of being a student-athlete. In high school, you could kind improvise in managing time; but in college with following the syllabi of all your courses, meeting professors; still having to lift; and meet with the team and coaches and then overwhelming. I’d say it was kind of overwhelming, but definitely adjustable.
What do you like most about Morgan? I like the fact that people are open here. It may take some time to getting used to but the people here are nice and easy going. There's different kinds of people here with all types of different interests is kind of hard to get lost.
What would you like to change at Morgan State? There's one thing I'd probably change and that's the Rawlings Dining Hall choices. Some days are good other days are bad. But I feel like that's the case at every other college. But all in all I love the strides that Morgan is making forward and I'm all for it 100%.

Pop Culture:
What social media do you prefer the most? Twitter. That's where the majority of news is, and all the funny stuff throughout the week or day is on there as well.
Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? Why? I think it depends on the book or movie. I enjoy movies that were once books. It's easy to go back and see which was better, in most cases the book is better than the movie. But just the question in itself is interesting to me.
What song can you not help but sing-a-long to? Kanye West – “Hey Mamma”
Who is your celebrity crush? Zendaya of course. That's been “bae” since freshman year of high school.
Favorite TV Show? I have a lot actually. But my favorite TV series, might be “Daredevil” or “One Tree Hill”
Favorite Movie? “Gladiator” is the greatest movie ever made.
Favorite musician/musical group? Drake. Any song he's made since “So Far Gone” - I pretty much know by heart.
My favorite cartoon or children’s show as a child was…Spongebob, Ed Edd & Eddy, and Dexter's Laboratory was the three main shows I used to stay up watching. I even have the first three seasons of Spongebob on DVD.
If you could switch lives with any celebrity, who would it be and why?  If I could switch lives with a celebrity I'd probably switch with DJ KHALED’s son that was just born. The kid is set for life no worries in the world. Only thing he has to worry about is just living.
Favorite music genre? 90s R&B and Hip Hop

Travel:
Most interesting place you’ve visited?  Germany, Prague, Czech Republic.
Place you would like to visit? Italy, Barcelona, and Egypt.
Where are you from? Baltimore, Maryland.
Food:
Favorite home cooked meal? Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo. Or any pasta dish.
Favorite snack? Glazed Donuts.
 I hated it when my mom made me eat? Baked beans. Probably the nastiest thing I can eat.
Favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The greatest cereal made.

Sports:
When is your favorite time of your sports season? Probably the middle. It shows where you stand for the rest of the season and I think the most competitive part of the season.
Who is your favorite athlete? Why? Muhammad Ali is my favorite athlete of all time. He spells out everything a human being should stand for; hard work, religion, faith, love, peace, wit, common belief the kid goes on and on. All the things he portrayed early on we have trouble finding people just like him or we belittle them. He's someone I admire fully.
Which team do you most look forward to competing against? Towson. Home town team, who's well respected in the area going up against us. A team that didn't even look my way in high school. A couple of my friends go there. I take this game very personally.
Do you have any pre-competition/match superstitions or rituals? I wear my headphones under my pads and helmet during pregame. I have a selected taste of music I like to listen up before playing.
What is your favorite part about your sport? I love the comradery of the game. Also the excitement it brings to other people after making a big play or a play to change the momentum of a game.
What is your favorite athletic memory? Winning two back-to-back championships in high school. I don't think I'll ever forget that.
Favorite pro sports team? Dallas Cowboys
What is your top skill?  Football IQ, athleticism and versatility. I can play in different areas of the field based on the matchups given.
When did you start playing football? 5 years old for the Overlea Orangeman

Miscellaneous:
Would you rather be rich or famous and why? I’d rather be rich. I hate to be the center of attention. I'm very laid back and to myself. I feel like a ton of fans would be overwhelming for me.
If you could do one thing over, what would it be?  In high school I had one girl that I really liked. I broke up with her for a dumb reason, I definitely regret that and would take it back in a heartbeat.
When you are not at practice, what could someone find you doing?  Sleeping or studying. I feel like that's all that student athletes do. Or play video games.
If could play another sport, what would it be? I'd play soccer. A lot of guys are huge fans of basketball you know other sports but soccer has been a huge interest of mine since sophomore year of high school.
Do you have an interesting nickname? “Timmy”. Only my great grandma and Aunt call me Timmy because my middle name is Timothy.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? “To do what you want you do, you gotta do what you have to do" my parents used to pound this into my head everyday coming up.
If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be? Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston arguably the greatest upset in all of boxing history.
What are your goals in life? To make my family and friends proud. To see the people that I call my own happy.
Person you admire the most? My mother. She's everything I look for in a lady and she's everything I look for in people in general. She has to do with a lot of my decisions everyday and she doesn't know it.
Coolest thing you did this summer? I didn't do much this last summer.
Most prized possession? Gold necklace with my number 25 on it and my two championship rings from high school.
If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be? I'd have dinner with Zendaya. I feel like if I had a chance I could definitely get her.
Dream event? Drake concert in Canada.
Cats or dogs? Dogs definitely. Cats always seem like they're up to something.
Early bird or night owl? Early bird
Funniest person on the team?  Godfrey Durham, Lamont Hill, Eric Alvis, Tra Revell, Terrod Roberts, DJ Trigg. Put you in a room with these dudes they'll have you laughing for hours.