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.

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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.