Rufus Johnson treasures a bond with his ill father as his NFL journey begins

The final part of a five-day series on the 2013 New Orleans Saints draft class.

Rufus Johnson broke into a sweat and his heart raced when he got a phone call from the New Orleans Saints selecting him 183rd overall in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft April 27. The Tarleton State alumnus realized his dream of a professional career was in motion, and there was one person in particular with whom he wanted to share the moment.

The newest Saints linebacker, just the second player ever from Tarleton State to enter the NFL, didn't have a rowdy celebration after his selection. Instead, he rejoiced with his close-knit family at their Dallas home, particularly his father, a former Texas Tech football player who is undergoing kidney dialysis.

Rufus Johnson Sr.'s illness prevented him from attending many of his son's games at Tarleton State. So Rufus Jr., a defensive end for the Texans, was thrilled to be in a quiet setting with his father, mother and siblings as the next chapter in his football career began that Saturday afternoon.

"My dad just gave me the smile that he's been giving me since I was 6 years old, ever since I was playing Pop Warner," the younger Johnson said. "He gave me that smile and told me 'Good job.' He embraced me with a hug, kissed me on my forehead and told me that now it's time to go to work."

Tarleton State defensive line coach Chris Mineo noticed Johnson's family-oriented nature when he arrived to the team in 2010 after two years at Kilgore (Texas) Junior College. Mineo said Johnson's strong bond with his father was a driving force behind his tenacious play.

"He talked about how his dad never had the opportunity to play after college and that was something (Rufus Jr.) wanted to do," Mineo said. "The one big reason he played the way he did every day was so he could get that shot his dad never got. He's a guy who plays with a lot of emotion."

Although the 6-foot-5, 272-pound Johnson was a reserved person off the field, he showed strong pass rushing ability as a defensive end in the Texans' 4-2-5 scheme.

Johnson spearheaded the Tarleton State defense as a senior with 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and seven quarterback hurries (33 TFLs and 15.5 sacks total in his two seasons with the Texans). He also garnered the Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year award and a first-team All-LSC selection in 2012, a year after making the Honorable Mention list.

?

He played in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game, seizing the chance to demonstrate his skills as a small-school athlete against bigger competition. Johnson's physical stature and speed as a rusher ultimately drew Saints Coach Sean Payton to make him the first player the Saints ever selected from Tarleton State.

Payton said Johnson should have a chance to line up as an outside linebacker in the Saints' new 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

"In our scheme, he would be one of those outside two positions," Payton said. "I don't know how much potential he has, but I think he has enough growth potential to where if he wasn't comfortable out there we feel like he could be strong enough inside at one of the end spots."

Johnson can't wait to prove himself worthy of a spot on the Saints roster. He said Tarleton State Coach Cary Fowler and Mineo helped him clean up his act and come out of his shell when he arrived in Stephenville, a small town about 90 miles from Dallas; the university has a student population of about 9,000.

"I got recruited by Mississippi State, and I got recruited by Baylor. Unfortunately I was not able to go to these schools, so I had to go the Division II route," Johnson said. "I had a bad attitude at first, but (my coaches) helped me mature a lot, helped me become a man and really looked out for me while I was down there."

Mineo said Johnson became more personable and mentally focused as his Texans career progressed. The coach said Johnson always flocked to the ball and gradually showed his desire and talent to advance to the NFL level.

"I knew he had the physical tools that you can't coach," Mineo said. "The thing I always talked to him about was the mental part you have to take to the game as far as studying film. Especially being at a smaller school, watching film, you always want to be one of the guys who's around the ball.

"I just think he's going to be a great addition to the Saints. He'll be a guy that if he keeps his work ethic up, he's a guy who'll be hard to cut down the line."

Saying goodbye to Johnson's production on the field and spirited demeanor in the locker room undoubtedly will be challenging. But Mineo acknowledged that Johnson's path to the NFL will work wonders for recruiting at Tarleton State, building confidence among players that the professional goal is attainable.

Johnson said he prepared himself before the draft for the worst scenario of going unselected. But now that he'll be in New Orleans for the first time with the Saints starting at rookie minicamp this weekend, he couldn't be happier.

"Coming from a small school, I know the bigger school guys get drafted," Johnson said. "I felt like I was the underdog. I know a lot of people really haven't heard about me but, having this opportunity, I really think I have a chance to showcase what I really can do at the top level."

Source: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/05/the_rufus_johnson_story.html

ramon sessions portland trail blazers blagojevich new mexico state kevin rose sessions march madness scores