From Septic Tanks To The Secondary: Former Duke Star Leonard Johnson Signs With The Giants

Leonard Johnson via ACC Digital Network YouTubeCredit: C/O

The world of sports is always a great place for a comeback story. In the case of Leonard Johnson, it may be more of a ‘make-good’ situation, as he appears to be where he should have been all along.

Johnson signed with the New York Giants late last week for a reported three-year, $2.69 million contract — one year after failing to be drafted due to a serious injury. The defensive back was a standout at Duke University and was expected to be chosen as a late-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

It didn’t quite go that way, however. Johnson suffered a serious injury about two weeks before the Draft arrived when his leg buckled during a conditioning drill at the University of Alabama. The end result was a torn ACL, torn meniscus, and some of the worst possible luck or timing that any potential prospect could imagine.

The 6-foot, 194-pound slot corner recorded six interceptions and was coming off a solid career for the Blue Devils, where he was known as a bit of a run-stopper. However, scouts were impressed by his press coverage ability. Some even thought he might eventually transition to the safety position at the pro level.

That all went up in smoke when the leg injuries occurred. After missing only one game out of a possible 48 games during his time at Duke, Leonard Johnson would miss his big break. Needless to say, he’s been at a crossroads – both personally and professionally – for the better part of a year now.

Undaunted, Johnson didn’t want to give up his hopes of reaching the NFL, but he knew that it would be a long road to recovery. Still, he knew that he might have one more shot based on discussions he had with different personnel people around The League.

“I was getting all these pre-draft calls, and it’s crazy that the first thing they ask is, ‘Are you healthy?’ ” Johnson told the New York Post. “I had to tell them the truth. I think 13 teams told me, ‘When you are 100 percent, let us know. We’ll bring you up for a workout.’ I didn’t hear from any of those teams after I got cleared.”

Despite majoring in sociology and minoring in education & marketing management while on campus in Cameron, he didn’t pursue anything in those fields. Instead, Johnson spent his time away from the game cleaning septic tanks and fixing leaky pipes in his native Alabama.

Considering how much the timing of his injury in 2022 stunk? Some might say he was already prepared for the job.

Leonard Johnson will enter camp with the Giants looking to secure an active role in a defensive secondary that was fairly average last year. The Giants (9-7-1) ranked 13th in passing defense last year, as they finished third in the NFC East behind the Dallas Cowboys and the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

“I feel like I have so much more to prove because I haven’t played football in a year,” Johnson said. “I’m just so anxious to rehab with some NFL trainers knowing everything is going to be the right way. After getting hurt, all I could ask for was one opportunity. I was so close, why would I just give up now, honestly? I just want to get to New York and showcase what I can do, especially off of a leg injury this serious.”

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