Redemption: The Leon Johnson and Jullian Taylor Story

PHILADELPHIA - As Temple football's week one showdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish quickly approaches, one common theme highlights the senior campaigns for highly-touted leaders Leon Johnson and Jullian Taylor: Redemption. After an injury ended Taylor's junior season ten games too soon and numerous nagging injuries resulted in three offseason surgeries for Johnson, being able to enter the 2017 season with a clean slate of health is exciting news for the Owls.

Although both Johnson and Taylor still managed to make significant contributions to Temple's second consecutive 10-win season, they were left wanting more. With a road trip to the storied football-town of South Bend, Indiana first up on the schedule, the two seniors are certainly focused on moving in the right direction to kickoff the season.

"When you get something that you have a passion for taken away from you, it's tough. It grinds you up. It humbles you," said Johnson, who missed spring practices due to rehabbing offseason surgeries. "I'm happy to be back doing what I love. I'm back."

Taylor, whose junior season was cut short directly following his first career start, agrees.

"I've definitely been using the missed time as motivation," Taylor said. "Proving to myself that I can come back and proving everybody right who still believes in me is definitely motivation. It's been a long journey, but I think in the end it'll have been meaningful."

Ever since head coach Geoff Collins' first day on campus, he has prided himself and his team on being tough - Temple TUFF. However, being "Temple TUFF" is much deeper than what it seems to be on the surface. It is far more than just a catchy phrase or a motivational tool for this team, and to better understand it, there are no two players who can speak on the topic better than Taylor and Johnson.

"Being 'Temple TUFF' is putting everybody in the building before yourself," Johnson said. "You represent a school, a team, coaches, family, and even other teammates. Making good decisions, that's being 'Temple TUFF'. It's not easy, but it's something that you develop over time. If you care enough for the people in this building, you will be 'Temple TUFF'."

His hard work hasn't gone unnoticed, though. When redshirt-freshman quarterback Anthony Russo was asked about his starting tackle during summer camp, he spoke very highly of what Johnson brings to the table for the Owls.

"We know that no matter what, when he [Leon] is out there, he's going to be ready to go," Russo said. "Whether he's 100 percent or not, he's going to give it his all. He's going to lay it all on the line for the team."

Taylor agrees with his teammate, being 'Temple TUFF' is something special.

"'Temple TUFF' is a lifestyle. It's more than just on the field. Everything from being on time, to your social life, to how you carry yourself," Taylor said. "It's about being the best person that you can be."

In addition to experiencing injury-riddled junior campaigns, Johnson and Taylor's similarities go far beyond the football field. The fifth year seniors' common interests in media and communications resulted in each of them interning with separate media networks this offseason, learning the ins-and-outs of the media industry - all while rehabbing and fighting their way back onto the gridiron.

At CBS3, Taylor gained valuable experience, doing everything from sitting in on editorial meetings, shadowing reporters, and working on feature stories for the network.

"It was very meaningful," Taylor said. "I'm glad I was given the opportunity. Whenever I'm done with football, it's definitely something that I'd love to get into."

As for Johnson, whose offseason internship was with Comcast Sports Net as a newsroom intern, he too found the experience worthwhile.

"I really got into it," Johnson said. "From my perspective, I've always been on the sports-side of things. So to have the opportunity to experience things from the other side of sports was great. It was a great overall experience. Definitely an enjoyable time."

Since Collins' arrival at Temple in December, position versatility has been something he and his staff have put an emphasis on. In addition to becoming more well-rounded off the field, Johnson spent a portion of this summer's camp honing his craft on the field, revealing his jack-of-all-trades type skill set and putting it all on display - by taking snaps at defensive end.

"It was interesting," Johnson said. "I've got some athleticism, so being able to showcase what I can do is exciting. Talking to some of the other linemen, talking to coach [Jim] Panagos here and there, it was fun to be able to do."

As for Taylor, his aforementioned injury prevented him from truly breaking out as one of the anchors along the Owls' defensive line. However, big things still seem to be on the horizon for the senior defensive end. He still believes that the sky is the limit this season, and for good reason. Taylor recorded a career-high five tackles in last season's opener against Army and went on to earn his first career start the following week against Stony Brook.

"It feels good to be back in the swing of things and to be 100 percent healthy with the team," said Taylor, who missed ten games last season due to injury. "That's what I missed most. I feel like this could be a magical season, especially with Coach Collins as our coach."

Over the offseason, Temple football experienced a great deal of turnover in comparison to years past. With Collins now at the helm and a mere ten starters returning, in some buildings, there would be uncertainty - but not here. Expectations and confidence are at an all-time high for this battle tested Owl football team, and many within the building firmly believe that the sky is the limit. In a make or break year for a program coming off of consecutive 10-win seasons and incredibly steady improvement, that is crucial.

"We have been in just about every situation that a team can be in," explained Johnson, who recognizes and understands the highs and lows of college football all too well.

From experiencing a two win season in 2013 to finishing as a Top-25 team the past two seasons, it's been a long journey for the upperclassmen in this program.

"From losing 90 percent of the games just a few years back, to being in win-or-go-home situations, we've been in these situations for the past three years," Johnson said. "We're going to be experienced, we're going to be tough, we're going to outwork you, and we're going to learn you from top to bottom. That's our edge."

With the 2017 season kicking off tomorrow, seasoned leaders like Taylor and Johnson will certainly be called on to step up - and they seem to be ready for that challenge. After all they've been through over the past four seasons, failure doesn't seem to be an option.

Temple University Athletics

Redemption: The Leon Johnson and Jullian Taylor Story

Players Mentioned

Leon Johnson

Anthony Russo

Jullian Taylor

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