Braydon Johnson Is Itching to Get Back Out Onto the Field After Missing 2021 Season

STILLWATER – It’s been a long couple of years for Oklahoma State super senior Braydon Johnson. The speedster out of Arlington (TX) Bowie is entering his sixth year with the Cowboys as he’s looking to bounce back from missing nearly all of the 2021-22 season due to an undisclosed medical condition.

He entered last season with a lot of hype as not just one of the fastest players on the team, but as a player who was ready to slot into the outside receiver role and become a major piece to the offensive puzzle.

He recorded just two catches for two yards and one rush for 13 yards against Missouri State in the season opener last season before missing the remainder of the season due to his injury.

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“When I came back, I was ready,” said Braydon Johnson. “I was itching to get back to it; I missed so much. Like I told Jessica [Morrey], I got to figure out how much I loved the game because it was taken from me, so I just want to take advantage of every opportunity and it’s a blessing.”

Johnson had been on the cusp of a breakout season the prior two years.

He played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2019, recorded 491 yards on 23 receptions and four touchdowns, making him the third-leading receiver on the team in both yardage and touchdowns. That including a career-high 124 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.

Johnson’s not just the oldest receiver on the team, but he’s one of the oldest players on the roster. On the other side of things, that also makes him one of the most mature players on the roster. However, despite him redshirting in 2017, Johnson told the media he sometimes feels younger when out on the field.

“I almost feel younger, you know what I’m saying?” Johnson said with a smile. “I definitely feel [older], too, just mentally I feel like I’ve matured some and I’m ready to take on that role of, I understand that my body is a business, so I have to treat myself that way, and I understand at the next level it’s no time for slacking and you have to be on point at all aspects to be successful.”

After having missed last season and believing at times that his playing career might be over at any point, it’s allowed Johnson to take a closer look inside himself and allowed him to grow both on and off the field.

“It’s the most I’ve ever learned about myself, and I look at it as a blessing; I grew so much just being one-on-one with myself,” said Johnson. “It was bad, but it was an opportunity, that’s how I look at it, to grow as an individual. Become a better man.”

Johnson gets his chance to get back out there and compete when the Pokes line up against Central Michigan on Sept. 1 in Stillwater.