Kelin Johnson was once a young buck in a loaded defensive backs meeting room.
He was a freshman sharing space with Tim Jennings, Thomas Davis, Greg Blue, Paul Oliver and DeMario Minter, taking notes and listening to then-position coach Willie Martinez.
On one particular occasion, Martinez singled Johnson out for getting beat, rewinding the film over and over. Martinez’s words have long resonated with Johnson since.
Martinez asked Johnson when he would grasp the defense. Martinez then told Johnson, in front of everyone, that his performance on the field would last long beyond his college days.