Johnson & Johnson: Daniel’s road from refugee camp to Riderville … Micah’s second line of work
SASKATOON — Daniel Johnson is a happy camper.
That becomes joyfully obvious within milliseconds of initiating a conversation with the second-year Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman during Coors Light Training Camp.
“I should have a smile on my face,” Johnson said on Thursday at Griffiths Stadium. “My mom got me and my brothers out of a really tough place.”
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp, Johnson was just one year old when his family emigrated from Nairobi to London, Ont. Every subsequent day has been filled with gratitude.
“There’s no words,” Grace and Langoya Johnson’s 25-year-old son said. “I really could be dead right now.
“I still have family back home struggling and it’s great that my family and a couple of my cousins got to come over here and live a different life than my parents did.”
Daniel Johnson and his siblings have taken advantage of the myriad opportunities that became available to them in Canada.
George Johnson was a receiver with the Montreal Alouettes in 2017 and 2018.
Alfred Johnson played post-secondary basketball at London-based Fanshawe College before taking his talents to Germany, where he plays professionally.
Daniel, 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds, played NCAA football at Kent State and Purdue while being honoured for sportsmanship and academic prowess.
After being selected by Saskatchewan in the fifth round (41st overall) of the 2024 CFL Draft, he attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. He signed with the Roughriders on May 14 of last year.
Having dealt with injuries and spending a season on the practice roster, Johnson is now enjoying his first full training camp as a Roughrider.
“Last year, he came in a little bit dinged up, coming from mini-camp,” Head Coach Corey Mace recalled.
“I would go out on a limb and say he has probably been the most improved player for us at this camp. He has been outstanding. I’m really pleased with D.J.
“When you get to know him, he’s a better person than he is a player — and he’s a damned good player.
“I can’t say enough good things about D.J.”
Johnson beamed once more after being advised of the kudos from the coach.
“It definitely brings a smile to my face,” he said. “Coming out of college and having a lot of injuries, you tend to get down on yourself.
“Over the off-season, it was great, because I got to relax and I got to be myself. I got to learn about myself a lot, going through these injuries and going through these down times.
“This off-season was great, because I got to go home (to London). I got to remind myself why I do this, why I keep on playing football, and why I work so hard.
“Being born in a refugee camp helps. Being an immigrant to Canada is a reminder of why you keep working hard.”
Even in Saskatchewan, reminders are close by.
“The great thing is that my mom’s older brother who came with me from that refugee camp lives in Regina,” Johnson said. “(Moving to Saskatchewan) was the first time I got to see him since he came to Canada with me.
“That’s what makes me happy. I’m around family. When I’m in Regina, I’m home. That’s what made me relax and think, ‘You’re home.’
“I have my uncle with me. I have family. I have the Riders. All these people are around me, making me work harder and making me feel happy.”
HIGHLIGHT REEL
Four-time All-CFL defensive tackle Micah Johnson took a turn on the offensive line during Thursday’s full-pads workout.
Such a shift was hardly without precedent, considering that Johnson was twice called to duty as an emergency O-lineman during the 2024 regular season.
“He was begging to do the (12-on-12) showcase and get a good rep, so I called him out there first to get his juices flowing,” Mace said. “Then I put him at O-line. The more you can do …
“And he won the rep.”
Also of note on Thursday:
• Antoine Brooks Jr., who can play linebacker or defensive back, registered what has become an almost-daily interception.
• Also in the “skelly” (linemen excluded) component of practice, deep touchdown passes were caught by Dohnte Meyers (from Jake Maier) and Daniel Wiebe (Jack Coan). Wiebe, a 2025 eighth-round draft choice from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, made a fingertip grab on a corner route.
• In 12-on-12, Maier threaded the needle to Drae McCray over the middle and 6-foot-2, 234-pound Trent Pennix took off on a robust run after accepting a handoff during the shorter-than-usual practice.
GREEN AND WHITE DAY
The team is back on the field on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
On Saturday, there will be a temporary migration to the Gordie Howe Sports Complex for Green and White Day.
Gates are to open at 1 p.m. Attendees will be treated to performances by the Harvard Media Rider Cheer Team, the 620 CKRM Rider Pep Band and Gainer the Gopher. As well, there will be face-painting, inflatables, music and games.
Beginning in the main hall at 1:45 p.m., CKRM’s versatile voice of the Roughriders (Dave Thomas) will moderate a panel discussion that will feature Mace, Craig Reynolds (President-CEO) and Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager). Following the panel discussion, the floor will be open to fans’ questions.
The players will take centre stage at SMF Field, beginning with a mini-Bring ’Em Out that is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. On-field activities are scheduled for 4 p.m. and should last about an hour, after which players will be available to sign autographs for fans who line the fences.
“I think the fans will see a lot of energy and a lot of juice — something to cheer about,” Mace said.
“If they haven’t had a chance to come out and catch practice, there’s been a lot of big plays happening out this way.
“I think it’s just a chance for our fan base to get closer to the team and see it in live action.”
