Every game, don’t miss Behind the Face Mask, taking a closer look at your favourite Saskatchewan Roughriders.
This week, guest host Dave Thomas sits down with Roughriders receiver KeeSean Johnson.
Dave Thomas:
Time to go Behind the Face Mask with a 1,000-yard receiver, three-year member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Grey Cup champion and the most dependable receiver in the Canadian Football League on second downs, KeeSean Johnson.
Which of those sounds the best?
KeeSean Johnson:
You know, what my parents named me, KeeSean. How about that? That’s good.
Dave Thomas:
Okay, KeeSean. It’s spelled a little differently. I know there are other KeeSeans or Kaishawns, or you can name Johnsons around the league, but how did KeeSean, K-E-E-S-E-A-N, come to be?
KeeSean Johnson:
You know, my mom and dad — my dad’s name is Shawn, so he wanted to do something a little different. They came and put the “Kee” in front of it.
Dave Thomas:
Okay, tell me about — well, we’ll get to your journey to Riderville in a moment, but let’s go back to your college days at Fresno State.
You set a school record for receiving yardage. What does it mean to hold that record, especially when you look at some of the athletes who have come out of that program?
KeeSean Johnson:
You know, obviously, it feels good. It’s still going, you know what I mean? But a lot of good guys came out of there, so I had to go in there and put in some hard work and spend time with quarterbacks and coaches. Everything had to come together.
Dave Thomas:
It’s amazing when you look at some of the people who came out of Fresno State. You missed him by a year, but Aaron Judge went there. What a legend and legacy he left on the baseball field.
KeeSean Johnson:
A lot. We’ve got Paul George in basketball, too. We’ve got Derek Carr, Davante Adams, and the list goes on and on.
No matter what it is, we have guys who are going to come out and execute and do their thing.
Dave Thomas:
It’s cool watching your tape. You must have had a bunch of different offers about what you were going to do after high school. How did you end up at Fresno State?
KeeSean Johnson:
I actually was a guy who didn’t have too many options. I had a couple, and I had to make a decision.
Davante went to the same high school as me, and seeing him go out there and do what he did at Fresno State led me to go there and keep the tradition going.
Dave Thomas:
This is probably going to be a lot — I’ll qualify the question — but how much of a wine connoisseur are you?
KeeSean Johnson:
If I’m drinking, if I’m doing something in that aspect, that’s something I like. It just keeps you soothed and cool.
Dave Thomas:
Did you know Fresno State is the only college in the United States with a bonafide course in winemaking and wine craft?
KeeSean Johnson:
I didn’t, so that’s something new for me. I knew they had wine, but Fresno State wine — I never knew it was the only college.
Dave Thomas:
So, if you and I went out on a wine tasting, how good would you be? Could you explore your palate?
KeeSean Johnson:
No, I’m still working on that. I’m still working on that, trying to get there.
Dave Thomas:
Okay, Fresno State. You get drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, and you make your statement in the NFL. You bounce around a little bit.
Tell me about what that journey was like in the National Football League. It must have been a dream.
KeeSean Johnson:
Oh yeah, obviously a dream come true. As a kid, just going out there and being drafted — being a kid who can get drafted — and being around those buildings with the one per cent of guys and that high level of talent, I’m thankful for it.
You just keep continuing the journey.
Dave Thomas:
One thing that you are known for is your level of competition. How high was the level of competition when you’re trying to live that dream?
KeeSean Johnson:
It’s every day. No matter what you’re doing, you’ve got to be working out. The more you sleep, the more it all comes into play.
It’s competition at that level all around.
Dave Thomas:
Tell me about your journey from the NFL. Of course, you played a little bit of other professional football before coming to Saskatchewan.
You get the call, and it was Saskatchewan — who? How did that happen?
KeeSean Johnson:
I definitely had friends who played in the CFL before I came up here, but I had to do some research.
Once I got in contact with Kyle Carson, he hit me up first, and then Coach Mace. It kind of just seemed like the right thing to do.
I was on the edge of retiring from football, you know what I mean, but my family, my dad, my brother — everyone said you always want to go out on your own terms.
That was something I always wanted to do. After that, it was about figuring out where to go. Saskatchewan was the team that had my rights, so I came up here and wanted to see what it was like.
Dave Thomas:
So, when you go back and maybe talk to some of your former teammates who aren’t familiar with Saskatchewan, how do you describe it?
KeeSean Johnson:
Unique place. Big fan base, unique place.
Once you get here — when you’re not here, you don’t know what it’s like being here. Once you come here, you’ll see the environment, how the fans love you and how they love the team.
They come out to support us every week, and that’s something great.
Dave Thomas:
You have two beautiful young girls. Tell me what it’s like being a girl dad.
KeeSean Johnson:
You know, I always wanted to have a son, but having daughters can change your life in ways you never expect.
You’ve got to go out and be a good man for them every day.
Dave Thomas:
What’s the best daddy-daughter date you’ve been on?
KeeSean Johnson:
So far, probably the father-daughter dance. That’s probably one of the most memorable.
Just giving my daughter the experience to be able to go and be at those things, and showing her that Dad’s going to show up.
Dave Thomas:
Can you braid hair? Is that in your wheelhouse?
KeeSean Johnson:
Oh, I can do some hair. My famous slicked-back ponytail — that’s my go-to.
That’s the go-to. It’s a solid go-to.
Dave Thomas:
That’s a staple.
What’s a good day in KeeSean Johnson’s world?
KeeSean Johnson:
Probably some football or just hanging out with the family. The main goal is hanging out with the guys, enjoying life and having a good time.
Dave Thomas:
KeeSean, we raise our glasses to you and make a toast with some wine. We’ll do that down the road.
Thanks for doing this.
KeeSean Johnson:
Of course. Thank you.
