Vanderbilt's Cam Johnson Finding Love Of The Game Has Fueled His Improvement

Sometimes Good Can Come From Adversity

Vanderbilt redshirt freshman receiver Cam Johnson has seen his production rise since the start of the season as he is becoming a bigger part of what the Commdores are doing offensively. 

Johnson attributed his improved play to "finding" his love for the game again following an injury.

"It's something I definetly had to work on when I got here, and I'm not going to say I didn't work hard in high school, but it was definitely harder to work hard when I got here and I remember the first two weeks of camp when I got here, Coach Moorhead chewing me out every day and telling me if I kept playing the way I was that I'd never play," said Johnson. "I think after that it sort of woke me up a little bit and I sort of practiced a little bit harder and after I got injured I realized how much I loved the game and how much it meant to me so now every day I come out here with that sort of mindset."

"I know how much it means to me so I give my all to it every day and I think that can take me as high as I want to go," added Johnson.       

As for the chemistry he is developing with quarterback Riley Neal, Johnson credited not only his signal caller, but other offensive teammates as well. 

"I think just getting comfortable and getting more comfortable with Riley has been the biggest key," Johnson said. "Just gaining his trust and the o-line has started to pick it up and doing a great job, making sure that they are giving Riley time. We're running the ball well and you see Ke'Shawn (Vaughn) is doing and we have so many weapons that it's hard for them (opposing defenses) to key on one person and it's opening things up for everybody."

While the ability was clearly there for Johnson, finidng his place and becoming comfortable has been a key. His continued improvement throughtout the remainder of this seasons will be a key factor for Neal as it provides another weapon outside of Vaughn, Kalijah Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney for which the quarterback can use to make plays.