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On The Plains with Lawrence Johnson: 'Just a kid dreaming'

by Greg Ostendorf

AUBURN, Ala. – Lawrence Johnson remembers watching the 2013 Iron Bowl at his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His mother, Chinetta Davis, was an Auburn fan, so the family watched the rivalry game every year. It was like a national holiday in their house. His stepfather, who was from Alabama, pulled for the Crimson Tide.

“It’s a house divided,” Johnson said.

When Alabama got one second put back on the clock, you could sense the excitement from Johnson’s stepfather. Little did he know what was about to happen next.

“When they kicked the ball and the guy ran it back, his jaw was on the floor,” Johnson said. “My mom was parading around the house excited. It was a good memory.”

This November, that 14-year-old kid who watched the Kick Six with his family in Indiana will play in the same storied rivalry when Auburn hosts Alabama to close out the regular season. It will be the 10th anniversary of the 2013 Iron Bowl classic. Johnson had one year of eligibility remaining, and when the opportunity to play at Auburn and to play in the SEC presented itself, it was too good to pass up.  

“I’m just a kid dreaming,” he said. “Why watch the Iron Bowl when you can play in one?”

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Coming out of high school Johnson had a handful of scholarship offers, but nearly all of them were from MAC schools. His only Power Five offer came from Purdue just up the road. He never thought he’d have a chance to play in the SEC. Only “certain types of players” go there. He wasn’t one of them. Not yet.

But Johnson made the most of his opportunity at Purdue. He played in 46 games, starting on the defensive line each of the last three seasons. He earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors last year. In the classroom, he graduated in August 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in law and society. He’s currently studying in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn and wants to attend law school when he’s done playing football.

“I just want to help people the best way I can,” Johnson said of his future in law.

Johnson could have returned to Purdue for his final season. He enjoyed his time in West Lafayette. But if you have a chance to play in the SEC, why not take it? 

“It’s different competition,” he said. “It’s considered better competition around the country. There’s more exposure. And just new scenery. I wanted to do it to show my people I’m serious about it. I moved from two hours away from my home to 10 hours, so I’m really on my own out here. It was a serious business decision.”

The last couple years this program hasn’t been what it’s been in the past. I just want to put my hand in getting the program back to the right direction.

Lawrence JohnsonDefensive Lineman

Auburn wasn’t the only SEC school to pursue Johnson. Ole Miss was also heavily involved. But Auburn was different. Not just because his mom was a fan. It was the family connection he felt from the coaching staff and from his visit to the Plains.

“When they hit me up, they didn’t stop,” Johnson said. “They showed me that they wanted me, and they showed me in the best way possible. They stayed in contact with me. The coaches were checking up on me every chance they had. When I came here for a visit, everything was so genuine, so real, and it felt good.

“At Purdue, they like football and they love basketball. Here, they love football and basketball. To see that difference and to see when you walk around campus, how excited people are just because you play football – they want to take pictures with you, they want your autograph – it feels like you’re a celebrity here.”

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Because he was still finishing his season at Purdue, Johnson was unable to visit Auburn for a game last fall. He watched highlights and videos from the pre-game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He even got a taste of what it would be like to run out of the tunnel on gameday at A-Day. But he can’t wait to experience the real thing on Sept. 2 for the opener against UMass.

“The players here tell me it’s nothing like you’ll ever see before,” Johnson said.

For Johnson, Auburn has already been unlike anything he’s seen before. From the new football facility to the level of competition he faced in spring practice to the power of the Auburn Family, it’s exceeded all expectations.

He still remembers one of his first “Auburn Family” moments. He was eating in the dining hall by himself, and a handful of student-athletes from other sports walked in and started engaging in conversation with him. “Hey, you look new.” “How are you doing?” They didn’t know Johnson from the next person, but they still made a point to welcome him.

“I really sat back and was like, ‘Wow,’” Johnson said. “They didn’t know me. They didn’t have to do that. But because they knew I had to be on a sports team to be in there, I was part of the family now. It’s a great thing.”

As a part of the Auburn Family now, Johnson feels a responsibility to get the football program to where it was when he was growing up and the Tigers were competing for championships.

“The last couple years this program hasn’t been what it’s been in the past,” he said. “I just want to put my hand in getting the program back to the right direction.

“For me personally, I just want to show everybody that I can compete at any level – the Big Ten, the SEC, it doesn’t matter. I can compete. For my team, I want to do anything I can to help us win and hopefully compete for a championship.”