Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Football Surprises Jaron Johnson with Scholarship
8/19/2017 10:38:00 PM | Football
Head Coach Chris Creighton surprised the senior wide receiver during Saturday’s Detroit Lions game
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- What started out as a normal day of training camp turned into a day to remember for Eastern Michigan University senior wide receiver Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde-Mt. San Jacinto College).
The football team was scheduled for a walk-through Saturday night at "The Factory" but instead Head Coach Chris Creighton surprised the squad with a break from camp instead to watch the Detroit Lions take on the New York Jets in a preseason NFL game at Ford Field. Instead of running through the playbook, the team got to cheer on former EMU student-athletes T.J. Lang and Pat O'Connor in their first home games in the Honolulu blue and silver.
However, that was not the final surprise of the night scheduled for the Eagles. In conjunction with Lions, EMU and Coach Creighton were recognized in the second quarter for its first bowl appearance in 29 years as well as leading the Mid-American Conference in GPA the past two seasons.
Creighton then called out a seat number for a special recognition. He then handed Johnson a slip of paper announcing that he would receive a scholarship for the upcoming season.
"I would like to present a full athletic scholarship to senior wide receiver Jaron Johnson!" Creighton said on the Jumbotron at Ford Field.
Used primarily as a kick returner in 2016, Johnson set the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl record with five kickoff returns and with 89 kickoff return yards against Old Dominion (Dec. 23). Overall, he played in eight games and amassed 440 yards on 24 kick returns on the season. Johnson totaled a season-high 100 kickoff return yards on four opportunities, including a 44 yard return against Central Michigan (Nov. 22).
"I had no idea! I just know it's a blessing, I worked hard for it and I make my family proud," Johnson said. "My heart dropped when it happened to me I'm on the faithful and just grateful right now."
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single game and season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The football team was scheduled for a walk-through Saturday night at "The Factory" but instead Head Coach Chris Creighton surprised the squad with a break from camp instead to watch the Detroit Lions take on the New York Jets in a preseason NFL game at Ford Field. Instead of running through the playbook, the team got to cheer on former EMU student-athletes T.J. Lang and Pat O'Connor in their first home games in the Honolulu blue and silver.
However, that was not the final surprise of the night scheduled for the Eagles. In conjunction with Lions, EMU and Coach Creighton were recognized in the second quarter for its first bowl appearance in 29 years as well as leading the Mid-American Conference in GPA the past two seasons.
Creighton then called out a seat number for a special recognition. He then handed Johnson a slip of paper announcing that he would receive a scholarship for the upcoming season.
"I would like to present a full athletic scholarship to senior wide receiver Jaron Johnson!" Creighton said on the Jumbotron at Ford Field.
Used primarily as a kick returner in 2016, Johnson set the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl record with five kickoff returns and with 89 kickoff return yards against Old Dominion (Dec. 23). Overall, he played in eight games and amassed 440 yards on 24 kick returns on the season. Johnson totaled a season-high 100 kickoff return yards on four opportunities, including a 44 yard return against Central Michigan (Nov. 22).
"I had no idea! I just know it's a blessing, I worked hard for it and I make my family proud," Johnson said. "My heart dropped when it happened to me I'm on the faithful and just grateful right now."
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single game and season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
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