In the Huddle: Purdue offensive tackle Daniel Johnson

Daniel Johnson was born in Africa, moved to Canada, developed a love for basketball but discovered a passion for football.

The transfer from Kent State joined the Boilermakers before last year but suffered a knee injury and has been a part of the offensive line rotation this season. He’s expected to see more action at left tackle with Mahamane Moussa likely out for the season.

It’s Halloween week. Did you celebrate Halloween growing up?

Halloween is still my favorite “holiday” of the year. I’ve always loved it.

Why is that?

I don’t know. I’ve always been a guy into magic and that kind of stuff. Growing up, I watched every single Halloween Town and Twitches. I loved it. October was just Halloween movies throughout my life.

Your first costume?

It was probably a mask my brother bought from the dollar store. I put that and a t-shirt on and ran around the neighborhood and tried to beat my brothers out to see who could get the most candy. That was the big part of Halloween I always enjoyed. I have three older brothers and we used to grab garbage bags and see who got the most chocolate. Our parents didn’t like that very much.

As you got older, did you find a different costume?

As I got older, football started taking up my time.

If trick-or-treaters come to your house, what are you handing out?

I’m a big jumbo guy. I like the kids’ faces when they see jumbo candy. I’m big on giving them what they want.

And as much as they want, right?

Exactly. I’m a big Reece’s guy. They would probably be getting the two or three big Reece’s Cups.

Any trick-or-treating for you?

No. Just watching more film.

Is Halloween a big deal in Canada?

It was in my neighborhood. I grew up in a neighborhood of immigrants and we’re all seeing each other. But it’s as big in Canada as it is over here.

First football memory?

My first practice in pads – I think I was in the eighth grade. One of my teammates’ dad was a football coach and they tried to introduce me to football, but I’d been saying no for a couple of years. I said, ‘OK, let me just try it.’ I came out and somebody called me Antonio Gates. I didn’t know that until I went to Kent State, and it made sense. The first route I ran was an over and I scored. It was crazy. It was the very first time I touched a football and I scored. It clicked.

Last time you played receiver?

Probably in high school.

Now you’re an offensive lineman. How has the transition been?

I love it. I love it. I just wished I loved it earlier. I wish I had started it earlier, I wish I had started playing football earlier, but basketball is what’s got me here.

Talked to some other players who play hoops in the offseason, are you the best basketball player on the team?

I haven’t played with those guys yet because of my knee. I’d be talking more trash all the time. I still think I’ve got it. I know I’ve got it. I’ve been playing down here in America for a long time. I played on a couple of EYBL circuits growing up.

How did you get involved in basketball?

My older brothers played, so naturally, I started playing. I played in the same program Zach Edey played in for a couple of years in the summer. I moved over to CIA Bounce, which is another big EYBL program, and played there for a season. At the end of my high school career, I started focusing on football.

Did you ever play against Zach?

I’m much older than Zach. He was probably in elementary or middle school when I was in high school. I know the Northern Kings boys can play.

Do you have a nickname?

D.J. or juice. The J is the juice in DJ.

Where does the juice come from?

Growing up, I had a juice haircut and people started calling me juice.

One thing your teammates don’t know about you?

I like to cook.

What’s your favorite?

Probably jerk chicken and some plantains.

Have you cooked for the offensive line?

I haven’t yet. I haven’t had the time to prepare myself and set up everything. I’ve been here rehabbing and football stuff.

You like to cook but what’s your favorite food before games?

Anything my mom cooks. Growing up, it’s always been African food before I play games and I’ve always played the best games. Having parents far away is tough but I would love to have any of my mom’s African dishes.

I don’t think they have many African dishes at the pregame meal.

I wish.

What do you eat then?

I really like salmon, mashed potatoes and some lasagna.

In 20 years, you’ll be doing what?

I’ll be living life with my family. Whatever it is I hope everyone in my family is happy and healthy and just living. Probably go back home to Africa a couple of times, maybe build a house over there and have my parents retire over there.

What’s your career once you’re done with football?

My master’s is in LDT, which is learning design technology. We do performance analysis, and we create curriculums for different companies in the academia world and also in the corporate world.

What was the best part of growing up in Canada?

This isn’t specific to Canada, but Canada has a lot of immigrants, and we have a lot of different cultures in our circle. The best part was getting to be involved in a bunch of different cultures and having people from different countries and we all come together. It was beautiful. We’re all in the same boat, we’re all products of war and we’re all trying to have a better life for ourselves and our families.

If you didn’t play sports, you would be doing what?

Just helping out people the best I can. That’s a great question because my mind is all over the place and I could be doing a bunch of different things. My end goal is helping out people and making people smile.

How will you go about helping people out?

Helping out kids and immigrants. A lot of people went out of their way to help me out. I never paid for sports. It was all donated. If I’m able to put little kids in my position that I was in and allow them to have the best opportunity to succeed, it would be great.

If you could pick a Halloween costume for Ryan Walters …  

It would be Martin Lawrence from Bad Boys or Big Momma. Something to do with Martin Lawrence since they have the ears.