Dyontae Johnson has always been curious about how things work. That probably helps explain why The University of Toledo senior linebacker ended up as a mechanical engineering technology major.
From a very early age, Johnson liked to take things apart and put them back together. His father, David, was a mechanic who took the time to show Johnson and his older brother, Davion, how to tinker with their electronic gizmos, and (hopefully) fix them. And if something needed to be put together, David always made sure his sons were there to see how it was done.
Dyontae Johnson with his mother and sisters. The senior linebacker will receive his degree in mechanical engineering technology in December.
“Dyontae and his brother and his dad, they were always trying to fix it themselves,” recalled Dyontae’s mother, Makita Jones. “Lawnmowers, remote control cars, TV remotes, old television sets, you name it. Their dad made sure they knew every aspect of how things were made. He would break it down from beginning to end so they would understand. I definitely attribute that to their dad, for sure. I was the one who said, just make sure the mess is cleaned up when you’re done.”
It wasn’t long before young Johnson was doing more than just watching.
“When I was around seven or eight, my dad bought a weight set that came with a bench, rack and some dumbbells,” recalled Johnson. “I kind of jumped in and helped him put all of that together.”
Johnson, who will receive his degree in mechanical engineering technology this December, has been more reflective about his life since his father passed away suddenly after suffering a seizure in March of 2020. His parents divorced when he was young, but Johnson stayed close to both of them, living with his mother during the week and his father on weekends. Johnson recalls those weekends with dad as being filled with the perspiration of hands-on projects.
“I was at his house every weekend, and I was his right-hand man,” Johnson said. “Wherever he went, I was going, whatever projects he was working on, I was helping out. He was my best friend. So now, I definitely cherish those moments even more because we made the most out of the time we could spend together.”
With an interest in all things mechanical and a proclivity toward math, Johnson was enrolled in Cass Technical High School in Detroit, whose reputation for STEM programs is matched only by its tradition as a football powerhouse. Johnson excelled in both, and ultimately accepted an athletic scholarship to The University of Toledo. He selected UToledo for reasons similar to his high school choice: the stellar reputation of its College of Engineering and the tradition of its football program.
Johnson flourished almost immediately on the football field, playing all 13 games as a true freshman in 2018. The academic challenge was a bit steeper, however, especially in his freshman year. But using his problem-solving skills and his willingness to ask others for help, Johnson has come to thrive in the classroom.
Dyontae Johnson with his father, David, who helps him with his tie before senior prom in 2018. Johnson’s father, who died suddenly in March 2020 after suffering a seizure, was a mechanic who helped encourage his son’s curiosity about how things work.
“It definitely was a challenge coming out of high school and going into college,” he said. “It was the relationships I built with those in the engineering program that have carried me to where I am now. When you’re in such a complex field you need to build those relationships and network with teachers, tutors and other students in order to balance it out and make it as easy as possible.
“There were a few older guys on the team that were engineering majors that helped me out when I first got here, guys like Richard Olekanma. Some of the guys on the team now such as Adam Beale, Tyler Long, Dalton Andrews, we all get together to work on homework and notes. There have definitely been a lot of sacrifices I’ve had to make with my free time and putting in extra time into studying and doing extra homework and papers. It’ll be worth it in the long run, for sure. I’m glad I took this route.”
Johnson’s determination to succeed in the classroom has mirrored his athletic achievements. A team captain, Dyontae led the Rockets in tackles in 2020 and earned All-MAC honors in 2021.
After his time wearing the Midnight Blue and Gold is over at the end of this season, he plans to pursue a career in the NFL before ultimately embarking on a dream he shares with his brother and sister, Dari, to buy, renovate and reconstruct homes. The Johnson kids seem to have all angles of the housing industry covered. In addition to Johnson’s engineering background, Davion is an electrician and Dari, a freshman at Central Michigan studying biology, has a knack for interior design.
Johnson is close to his mother and his siblings, as well as his stepmother, Shamika Johnson, and half-sister, Tamia. When his father died in 2020, Johnson set aside his own grief to make sure that everyone in his family was okay.
“He handled it like a champ,” said his mother. “His main focus was making sure everyone else was okay. He’s a leader. He took care of everyone else first, then he took care of himself.”
Though he remained stoic in the face of his loss, Johnson confessed it was a difficult period in his life.
“It was rough,” he said. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to my dad before he died. I had to talk to close family members. We had to stay tight with one another and lean on each other. But it was a rough time to get through.”
Johnson with his father and his older brother, Davion.
Johnson found an outlet to share his emotions during his senior speech in August, a team tradition in which every senior has an opportunity to stand before the entire team and share his aspirations and challenges.
“I put a lot into it,” he said. “I was thinking about it for two months beforehand. I put a lot of thought into it, how I was going to present it. It meant a lot to get that off my chest. Like I told the guys, I never opened up about it to anyone before except my immediate family. It was the first time I really shared the story about my dad. It meant a lot knowing that everyone was with me and had my back. It felt good, for sure.”
Johnson ‘s teammates and coaches were deeply affected by his story.
“It hit him deep,” said senior defensive tackle and close friend Desjuan Johnson. “He was saying how he had to keep pushing through the process of recovering from that loss. He was tight with his dad. He was thinking about us, how we needed him as a big piece of the team. We’re basically like family here.
“When I heard his story, it made me think about my dad,” Desjuan added. “I lost my dad when I was four years old. Knowing how he overcame his hardship was very positive for me. I feel like it made us even closer, and it affected the team also, made us all closer.”
Head Coach Jason Candle said Johnson’s personal story contains a lesson for the team, on and off the field.
“It was a very impactful moment for our football team and a big moment for him as well,” Candle said. “He used himself as an example to everybody else to say, hey, if you’re going through some things, there are people here who will wrap their arms around you and help you get though some tough moments. Some of the toughest warriors on the football field put a hard shell around themselves and don’t let anyone get to them. But at the end of the day, people struggle, and that struggle is real. You have to lean on others.”
Johnson said that when he shared his story with his teammates, he felt it was important that he stay in control. As a team captain and leader, he needed to show them that they could count on him to be strong. Though there was hardly a dry eye in the room when he finished talking, Johnson kept his composure. But even the toughest guys need a shoulder to cry on at some point.
“As soon as I got done with the speech I got into my car and called my mom and broke down,” Johnson said. “I’m definitely not a crier. If I am, it’s only to my mom. And it’s a rare time she ever hears me cry.”
Following his speech to the team, Johnson said he felt as if a little weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He still misses his father but finds comfort in remembering the connections and love they shared. He thinks about him often, but especially in those quiet moments before kickoff.
“Just suiting up and getting ready to play, I think of him,” Johnson said. “I have a chain that I had made in his memory that I keep with me on game day. I just know he’s with me when I’m suiting up. I just use that as motivation and energy to get me going.
“It’s kind of small,” he said holding up the crucifix between his fingers, “but it definitely holds a lot of weight to me.”
