The rise of the transfer portal in college football has given much more power to players, especially those that don’t have the best relationship with their current coach. Mississippi State running back Dillon Johnson made his decision to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday, and blasted head coach Mike Leach in the process.
Johnson took to social media to reveal his decision, sharing a detailed message about his time at Mississippi State and his rocky relationship with Leach.
https://twitter.com/Dill_7k/status/1600651612023922689?t=JQMYkZ4R7tABlZPKjQay2g&s=19
“First and foremost, I would like to thanks God for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents at a college level,” Johnson shared on Twitter. “Secondly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their endless love and support they have shown me throughout this season.
“To Mississippi State University, my teammates, trainers, and amazing fans, it has been an honor to participate in this program with you all. Together, you guys have helped me build my character and skills tremendously. With that being said, since I am not very tough, and (Mike) Leach is glad I’m leaving, I will be entering my name into the transfer portal with the hopes of finding a more fit playing environment for me.”
It’s unclear exactly why Johnson and Leach seem to not get along, but it’s certainly a surprising move for a player to call out a notable coach on his way out.
Perhaps Johnson’s gripe with the Mississippi State is his stagnant role within their offense in recent years. His stats from this season are extremely similar to his numbers in 2021, receiving 89 rushing attempts in the past two years on the team.
Regardless, it’s clear that Johnson is eager to continue his college football career elsewhere.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.