C.J. Johnson grew up 60 miles from Starkville. He committed to play at Mississippi State University as a junior in high school in 2009. He pulled that commitment a month before signing day in 2011.
When he did, he had Mississippi State fans accusing his mother working for Ole Miss boosters and making a six figure salary.
“There”s rumors going around that my mom has been working for some Ole Miss people and she’s making $100,000 a year,” Johnson told the Columbus Dispatch in January of 2011.