Tennessee Titans

Nashville native living dream with Titans

Published May. 20, 2015 12:38 p.m. ET

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Dezmond Johnson grew up playing football in Nashville and rooting for the Tennessee Titans.

On Monday, the Titans gave the rookie outside linebacker a chance to live out his dream, signing him to the team's 90-man roster.

"I grew up a Titans fan from Nashville, and my mom is a huge fan,'' Johnson said, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. "To have this opportunity, it's a blessing. It's kind of surreal, just walking into the locker room and putting on the Titans helmet and knowing guys like Jevon Kearse and Steve McNair and Eddie George, guys like that who wore the same helmet. It just felt great."

After going undrafted out of Duke, Johnson attended last weekend's minicamp on a tryout basis. He showed enough to to earn a contract and spot in training camp.

"When you get to this level, it's a business and you never want to get relaxed,'' Johnson said. "You never want to think you made it, you always have to keep pushing yourself. I am happy, and I am blessed for this opportunity to be able to work with this team.

"But my mindset is the same as it was heading into (rookie) minicamp, to finish every drill and do the best I can no matter whether I am tired or not. My overall goal is to get a spot for the long run, and I have to do everything necessary to make the dream come true."

Johnson, who will wear his college number, 42, with the Titans, says he's trying not to lose site of the goal, despite the thrill of playing for his hometown team.

"This is an exciting time for me, my family. But of course they also have the same mindset as I do: You are not done yet," Johnson said. "This is an amazing opportunity, but in the grand scheme of things, there are 89 other players trying to do the same thing, so there is no time to get comfortable. You have to keep getting better every day."

(h/t The Tennessean)

Photo credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY 

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