But back in middle school, Smith, a practice-squad defensive lineman with the Detroit Lions, was like every other football-mad kid in his class – he wanted to be like Calvin Johnson.

Here are five of them that you can share with your own athletes: Johnson grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, one of four kids raised by Calvin Sr., a railroad conductor, and Arica, an educator.

When Colton Hall spoke to his dad on the phone, he sensed what he told him was a really big deal. “Buddy, that’s Megatron!" Travis Hall said when he heard his son was meeting Hall of Fame wide ...

Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson will be inducted into Detroit's ... first and foremost as a kid, but to have him around and ask him questions," said Lions receiver Amon-Ra St Brown.

"Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field ... Maybe there will never be another Calvin Johnson, but Williams certainly has star potential. The Alabama wideout was named First ...

At halftime, Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson was inducted ... generation of players who was inspired by Johnson's exploits when he was a kid. After scoring a 70-yard touchdown against ...

“Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field ... They also could use whatever cooperation they could get from Calvin Johnson. The relationship is definitely improving.

Lions CB Carlton Davis III: “If you were a kid who watched football growing up, you knew who he was and how dominant he was. That’s who Calvin Johnson was.” Wide receivers and defensive ...

Speaking on a recent radio interview, former Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson threw support behind ... "Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field last year for the first time.

Calvin Johnson, who attended two of Detroit's mandatory ... a shoulder for him to lean on," Johnson said. "Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field last year for the first ...

DETROIT -- Nearly a decade has passed since Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson abruptly retired from ... m just happy to be at the point to have my kids here and being able to see the things ...

“Extremely talented kid. We saw him when he touched the field last year ... They also could use whatever cooperation they could get from Calvin Johnson. The relationship is definitely improving. “With ...