MIKE RIVERS

Change PageRaejae’ Johnson has had a long road to Troy since growing up in St. Louis Missouri. The senior is on his third different college after getting started in junior college in California as a player on the defensive side of the ball before switching to wide receiver. “I went to junior college first. My brother and his wife told me that if I want to play Division I I should go live with them in California. I went to California as a defensive player at first and then went to receiver and blew up.” After a successful junior college career, it was time for Johnson to take the next step in his college football journey and he made his way to Birmingham, Alabama to play for the UAB Blazers before ultimately transferring to Troy. “I got a call from coach Vincent because I sustained an injury, then I got a call from coach Brown asking me if I still wanted to play that I had a scholarship. I got to UAB, and I thought it was going to be something different, and it didn’t really work out.” The culture surrounding Troy football is something that Johnson has experienced before, but not since his time in California at San Mateo Junior College. “It gives me a junior college feel again with how close my team is. Here, offense, defense, special teams, we are all pretty close. You’re going to have your fights every now and then because that’s what family does, but as far as uplifting, we are getting closer and closer by game.” One thing that Johnson has always held on to throughout moving all over the country is his passion for his family. “I’m like the golden child, they all keep up with me and I try to keep up with all of them.” “I am big on family. Family is first for me. Anything I do, I try to keep everyone intertwined and keep my circle close. I’m really close to my brother. My brother is my everything. If I need something, I need to talk about something, or if I just hear something, he’s going to tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear.” Johnson grew up as a multi-sport athlete, finding success in baseball, football, basketball, and even bowling. He even claims to be better than his brother. “I’m better than my brother in bowling. I like to bowl, and it’s probably one of my hidden talents. I love to bowl, and it’s a stress reliever for me.” After football, the St. Louis native has one objective in mind. “Family man. I definitely want my family to be around. I want to coach. Wherever my heart takes me to and if I have kids I want to be like Deion Sanders, and I want my kids to see me, and I don’t want to miss the moment. With all the conversation surrounding whether or not young athletes should participate in multiple sports or to focus on one objective, Johnson takes a clear stance on what he thinks young boys and girls should do. “A lot of people say to focus on one thing, but you’ll never get the experience of a multi-sport athlete or get to experience different things. That really does help kids out because if you play baseball you meet different people. The same people don’t play every sport so you can meet different people, make connections and see different things.” One thing is certain, if the PBA ever comes calling, Johnson will be ready if he can get back to his prime with how well he is able to spin a bowling ball. “I don’t bowl with all three fingers, I only bowl with two fingers. I twist the ball in my hand with one hand and I spin the ball that way. My high score is 235, and that was only on a good day because my brother was talking smack. I touch 220 consistently back in my prime. We have to get a bowling alley in Troy.”

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Change PageKickers are usually built a little differently. And they have to be. They are on the field in high-pressure situations, and if they don’t do their job correctly, it is typically a game-changing event. Troy senior punter Mike Rivers fits that mold, but not like you might expect. Rivers, who transferred to Troy this past summer after spending the first four years of his career at North Carolina A&T, is as laid back and carefree as they come. “If something bad happens, you can’t really do anything about it, and if something good happens, you have to keep moving,” Rivers said. “That’s just the way I was taught growing up. My dad would always preach that to me. The next day has to be better than the last. “You always have to have that mentality that it’s going to be a great day,” Rivers said. “You have to think that you’re the best at what you do because if you don’t, then someone else is.” Born in Germany, Rivers spent the first two years of his life on a military base before his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he stayed until college. As an only child, Rivers had to find ways to get out his energy and stay busy. “Growing up in Wilmington was cool,” Rivers said. “The beach was right there, and I was around my dad mostly and we’d go to the fields a lot to play sports. Wherever there was a patch of grass, we’d find it and play on it – soccer, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, badminton. Outside of that, I’d spend time with my mom having fun; there were a lot of different activities to do – shop, go to the outlets, train, go to the beach.” He picked up the game of football early in his life and played all over the field from running back to quarterback before moving to the kicking side of things. “I was an athlete, but I couldn’t take the hits anymore,” Rivers admitted. “I was playing soccer at the time, and at one of the tryouts, I kicked the football and kind of liked it, thought it was cool, and it became a side thing at first. Then, started really doing it in fourth grade and began to take it seriously.” An All-MEAC selection at North Carolina A&T, Rivers started four seasons for the Aggies but always believed he could play at the highest level of college football. “Coming out of high school, I wasn’t heavily recruited because I didn’t put myself out there that much, but I always knew I was pretty good and could play FBS level. North Carolina A&T was my only offer, and I knew after my senior year I wanted to grad transfer and go FBS. I was in the portal for six or seven months, and then the coaches at Troy reached out, and I heard great things about the special teams coaches here. When I came for my visit, it seemed like home and felt like a small Power Five school because of the facilities and everything about the program.” What’s next for Mike Rivers after football? That’s a great question. “I guess I haven’t really thought about that,” he said. “I want a girlfriend and to get married, have some kids. I would like to continue my graphic design work because it’s a passion of mine, and it can provide a steady source of income.” Good thing for Rivers is that those decisions should be a few years down the road, with Sundays a real possibility for his immediate future. He enters the weekend eighth nationally averaging 46.9 yards per punt this season, is in the top 10 nationally in punts returned (only 9.1 percent) and ranks 15th with a 4.09 hang time.

NEZ