One of the biggest elements of getting a college education is "finding yourself." Many go to college unsure of what they want to be or who they are. For a two-star, unknown defensive back from Atlanta, it is knowing who he is that has allowed him to handle the abrupt ending to his college career.

Everyone remembers the hit. Everyone remembers the scene. For the last nine months, Vol fans everywhere have prayed and asked about the health of Inky Johnson. After two surgeries, Johnson still faces a long road of rehab. His arm remains in a brace. The nerve graft he had in December is healing and his movements are slight. Johnson understands where he is and how far he has to go, but he remains unwavering in his attitude about getting better.

"I got a little movement back," Johnson said. "My nerve graft is growing really good. I am going to rehab and getting it stronger. I am happy with my progress and my trainers are happy with it. A typical day is class, a workout and rehab. I still workout every day. The rehab is movement and strengthening exercise. I think I am going to be able in time to use it a good bit. I can notice a big difference in it."

My original goal in doing a story on Inqouris "Inky" Johnson was to give fans a glimpse of how someone can go from being on the verge of stardom on the football field to having to handle a critical shoulder injury that ended his promising football career.

What I have found in my "research" is that Inky can handle it because well ... he is Inky.

He says what he means, and he means what he says. - Trooper Taylor

It certainly sounds like "coach speak", but that phrase is the essence of Inky Johnson and has been all of his life. Most in the recruiting world knew little about Johnson. He played at tiny Crim High School in Atlanta and the Tennessee recruiting office found him. The Vols got a huge assist from then Crim head coach Darren Myles. Myles was an assistant coach at Douglas High School when Tennessee recruited Jamal Lewis. Myles knows talent. But it wasn't just his athletic ability that got Myles' attention.

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