When we analyze college prospects — how they'll translate to the NFL and what draft round they'll go in — we tend to lose sight of the human element involved. These are players from college who may or may not come from rough backgrounds, middle-class backgrounds or any other socioeconomic status that isn't the NFL rookie contract level.
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We saw this moment of the college-athlete-to-millionaire happen 31 times on the evening of April 27 — the first round of the NFL Draft — but one stuck out more than the others.
"With the 21st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Quentin Johnston, wide receiver, TCU," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said aloud, and we saw the ramifications of this on full display.
Johnston, a 6-foot-3 wideout, got emotional after getting on the phone with Chargers general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley. Their relationship goes back to the NFL Scouting Combine, where Johnston made an excellent first impression on Staley.
And as a result, Johnston is retiring his mom early.
Quentin Johnston Tells Mom She Can Retire After Being Drafted
These videos will never not be awesome: Quentin Johnston told his mom she can retire after the #Chargers drafted him with pick No. 21 in the NFL Draft.
"I don't want you working another day."
(🎥 @NFL)pic.twitter.com/0nUtxoactP
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 3, 2023
After getting selected, Johnston said, "You can get prepared for a moment so much, but you can actually, like, I mean, you never been there so, and then like, once you're there, it's a completely different feeling."
"I wasn't expecting to have the emotions that I had, but it was a great feeling," he added.
After this, in what appears to be a post-draft gathering of sorts with his family and friends, Johnston stood up and said something that all children wish they could say to their parents.
"I just want to give a big shout-out to my mom. She's gonna be putting her two weeks' notice in today. She can retire."
He finished by saying, "I don't want you working another day!"
The two hugged, and she told him she was proud of him.
Sherry Johnston Served in the Gulf War
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston celebrates the 2023 NFL Draft alongside his mom, Sherry, at Dave & Buster's on April 27, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Dave & Buster's)
Johnston's mom, Sherry Johnston, is an Army veteran who served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. His father, Carl, is also an Army veteran who served in Kuwait in 1995.
"Both of my parents were in the Army. The baseline of who I am, of Quentin, is based on discipline and respect," Johnston told Chargers.com. "That's something that I feel like has stayed with me from the time I could talk until now, and something that I'm going to keep doing.
"There was a lot of waking up early in the morning just to do whatever — a lot of everything, being on-point. I got used to it and that's just how I move now," Johnston added.
That work ethic helped Johnston become the 21st overall pick, which means he's a solid candidate to be a starting wide receiver for the team. With Johnston on the outside, the Chargers will also have Mike Williams opposite him and Keenan Allen in the slot. This move puts Joshua Palmer in the No. 4 wide receiver role, with Jalen Guyton, Keelan Doss and John Hightower behind them. Johnston is a big receiver, much like Williams, and provides another big-bodied option for their big-armed quarterback, Justin Herbert.
Additionally, Allen and Williams have had their fair share of injuries over the years, so Johnston will look to provide stability in a position with a not-so-healthy track record for the team.
Either way, Johnston has accomplished his dream of making it to the NFL, and his mom gets to enjoy retirement a little early. That's a win for everyone involved.
