‘This Is Personal’: Jaleel Johnson Ready to Start ‘Revenge Tour’ at Tulsa

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STILLWATER — There’s such juice and hope both inside and surrounding the Cowboys’ program that it almost overshadows the darkness that hung over Boone Pickens Stadium during the last two seasons.

​Almost.

​Eric Morris got a reminder of what a winning season would mean for the few returning Cowboys when players were asked about that at a recent luncheon.

​“So, the (players) that weren’t here answered in a certain way,” Morris said. “And then obviously Jaleel (Johnson) steps up and, like, ‘Heck yeah this is personal. I’ve been here for a long time, I lived those moments.’”

Linebacker Ethan Wesloski laughed, recalling the differences in their answers that day.

“It was funny because he spoke from the heart, and his comment was, ‘Well, these guys didn’t go 3-9 and 1-11,’” Wesloski said. “Because we were talking about how well we’ve been able to win.”

At this point, no one needs the reminder that Wesloski and Morris went 12-2 and came just 14 points shy of a College Football Playoff appearance last season at North Texas.

“You know, obviously to the other guys, you know, they’re not thinking about the losses the past seasons,” Johnson said. “They weren’t here. For me, I’ve been here, being here, being part of the teams that used to win games and all that.

“It definitely means a lot to me because, you know, first off, I just love the school. I love the program. I love everything about Oklahoma State. And then two, it’s just like I’m tired of losing, man. Like it means something to me, and it’s just a revenge tour.”

Johnson, dubbed by Morris as the team’s “most disruptive player” in the spring, is more than ready to kick off that tour after missing most of last season.

There were real signs he was finally breaking out. Johnson recorded 12 total pressures through four games, and Pro Football Focus graded him out with a 77 or higher grade as a pass rusher three times, with Oregon as the exception. In seasons prior, Johnson had only four career games above 65 as a pass rusher, and he never hit 70.

Johnson had plenty of time to think about the “revenge tour” he’s about to kick off this season as injury prevented him from taking the field for the final eight games last season. He said his time on the sidelines felt even worse as he watched the program and teammates he loved struggle to that 1-11 finish.

“I think about that all the time,” Johnson said of OSU’s losses. “Like just coming back, really, my biggest motivation was just me coming off injury, though. Like just being out for so long. You know, it’s just like I got to be able to get back in the groove. I want to make sure I’m at 100%. Make sure there ain’t nothing holding me back this year.”

Johnson answered all of these questions Tuesday while wearing a No. 99 jersey. With so much turnover on the program, some might not clock it immediately, but that jersey number belongs to defensive tackle Iman Oates.

“Today he went pretty crazy, he pulled out his phone, took videos, all kind of stuff,” Johnson said. “So he, I would say that’s probably the best reaction I’ve gotten.”

Oates was the latest teammate honored, but he’s not the first. Johnson said he’s in the process of buying every single one of his fellow defensive linemen’s jerseys.

“I didn’t tell anybody,” Johnson said. “I kind of just ordered them, kept it quiet, and then just started wearing them one day. Just every day, I’d change out a different person’s shirt, and they were excited to see who was next. They would sign them for me. They were just happy. They’re gonna start buying them too. They say they’re gonna start buying mine and everyone else’s too. So I may have started a trend.”

Johnson said the idea came to him one day when he was lying down in bed trying to think of a way to show his teammates, the best defensive line he’s been a part of, some appreciation.

“I was saying, hey, if I buy a jersey from them, give them a little confidence boost or something,” Johnson said. “You know, seeing an older guy that’s been here repping freshman, you know what I mean?”

With that in mind, it doesn’t sound surprising that Johnson was one of seven Cowboys named a team captain over the weekend. Wesloski said Johnson’s decision to remain a Cowboy is inspiring.

“It shows a lot to his character,” Wesloski said. “He is able to sit there and go through the hard times and persevere through them and he’s been a guy went through everything, battled injury … but has come out, he’s one of our premier defensive ends, and now he is able to line up across the ball from one of the top quarterbacks in the nation every day, against one of the best O-lines in the Big 12. So we’re really proud of the work he’s done to get back to where he is.”