Don’t complain, contribute. Don’t complain, contribute.

The closing remarks from Inky Johnson echoed throughout the football team room as the former Vol letterman concluded his annual speech in front of the 2024 squad.

Contribute – to this team, to your unit, to this facility, to this organization. It’s a blessing to do it, and it’s a privilege to do it at the University of Tennessee. Do me a solid, and respect it.

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Johnson delivered 23 minutes of powerful, inspirational messaging during his visit to Knoxville in mid-August. The world-renowned motivational speaker and two-time Tennessee graduate makes a point to impact the next generation of Volunteers and return to his alma mater every offseason – personifying what it means to be a ‘Vol For Life.’

“I come back every year not only because this place means a lot to me, but also just for the opportunity to be part of the whole organization and what they are building and creating,” Johnson said. “When you speak ‘Vol For Life,’ the lineage of that and the way it’s interconnected is phenomenal. I come back because I consider myself a Vol For Life. The interconnection and opportunity that brings in terms of being a part of this program, it means the world to me.”

The VFL was a two-year captain for the Vols and entered his junior season projected as a first-round draft pick. Unfortunately, his promising career ended abruptly on Sept. 9, 2006, due to a devastating injury that left him permanently paralyzed in his right arm. From that day on, Inky has had a burning desire to use his situation and experiences to add value to people’s lives.

“I speak all across the country, and it’s humbling for me,” Johnson said. “I’m extremely grateful, because people come up to from time to time, just in terms of sharing different things I’ve said and stories I’ve shared. For me, it’s confirmation that I’m walking in my purpose. That means a lot to me and makes me take what I do very seriously.”

Johnson’s message to the Vols during fall camp resonated with several team leaders, including redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava as he was set to embark on his first season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.

Inky is truly inspiring to me, everything he has been through and his story he’s shared with us, what I really took from his talk with the team was to cherish the game – really loving the game of football and not taking it for granted.

Nico Iamaleava

Inky’s visit to Rocky Top was timed perfectly as the Vols were two weeks into the grind of preseason training camp. Starting wide receiver Bru McCoy took a full page of notes, and the speech helped refresh his sense of urgency heading into his third and final year with the Vols.

Each and every time I’ve had the opportunity to hear Inky speak, it kind of breathes life back into you. He came in the dog days of fall camp … Guys start to feel sorry for themselves as a collective, and then you have a guy like Inky Johnson come in. He hits that reset button.

Bru McCoy

As one of Tennessee’s most significant leaders on the field and in the community, McCoy looks up to Johnson and came away from his message honored and inspired.

Not only is Inky an unbelievable motivator, but he’s an unbelievable person. The way he gives back to the community, the way he gives back to the university, it’s just truly an honor to be able to sit there and hear him speak about what he speaks about.

A point of emphasis during Johnson’s visit was his appreciation for the ‘VFL Brotherhood’ and the strong network of former Vols across the country. He cherishes those relationships daily and keeps up with former teammates in a group chat as VFLs from his era grow and progress through various stages of life. That chat includes current coaching assistant Robert Ayers Jr. 

Johnson’s values on brotherhood are paralleled by a Tennessee football culture built on trust, accountability and relationships that has been instilled by head coach Josh Heupel over the last four seasons. In the fall of 2022, Heupel established the Inky Johnson Spirit of Courage Award – recognizing individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

“The relationship that I have with (Inky) – and our team does, too – it’s so important,” Heupel said. “For us, that’s also why we created an award – the Inky Johnson Spirit of Courage Award – because of who he is and how he’s impacted the people around him.”

We wanted to recognize who he was as a Tennessee Vol. You talk to any of his teammates, they talk about his maturity, his focus, his competitiveness, his willingness to help pick up a brother and make such an impact on the people around him.

Josh Heupel

The award seeks to honor individuals who have faced significant challenges in their lives – whether physical, emotional, or mental – and have overcome those challenges with grace and determination. Past winners include defensive end Byron Young in 2022 and offensive guard Ollie Lane in 2023.

“I’m so honored that Coach Heupel chose to name an award after me,” Johnson said. “If I can be honest, it’s hard to put into words. It’s something that I’ve thought about a lot, just in terms of the gratitude that goes along with that.”

That’s something my children can see, something my wife and family can see, but also something the guys that I played with and the guys that come through this institution can be a part of. I’m forever grateful for it.

Inky Johnson