Who is Texas RB Jeremiah Johnson? Viral story about '12-year-old' football star explored
On Monday (11 December) afternoon, a photo of Texas youth football player Jeremiah Johnson, from Fort Worth, went viral. The running back was seen in the photo holding a 'Most Valuable Player' trophy for the 12U Division 1 group at the 2022 Youth National Championships that were held in Miami, Florida.
However, the photo didn't go viral because of his great accomplishments. It went viral due to the fact that everyone was calling his age into question on social media.
Youth football players in the '12U' group are technically 12 years of age, but Johnson's appearance made some believe otherwise.
In the photos, Johnson is seen with facial hair and possibly even tattoos on his right arm. Those are not typical features of a youth football player.
The running back, who can also play as a defensive end and a linebacker, is apparently 5'11" and 198lbs, according to his own personal Twitter page.
Blessed @OU_Football @uoregon @AuburnFootball @CoachBuc_Tim @UMich @TCUFootball @FSUFootball @TCU_Athletics @IMGAcademy @ncsa @SMUFB @CowboyFB twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/aqJ78TzuWd
Johnson also retweeted and liked some of the posts from Twitter users who were shocked at the idea that he could be much younger than what his appearance would suggest.
How old is Jeremiah Johnson?
Videos also surfaced on social media of people asking Jeremiah Johnson his age. In these videos, he very confidently says that he is 12 years old.
Many still didn't believe that he was, in fact, 12 years old. And now, some internet sleuths have found evidence that he may indeed be older than 12.
An Instagram post by someone who appears to be the boy's grandmother contains a photo of him in August, wishing him a "Happy Birthday" and writing that he is 13.
@nojumper His grandmom said he’s 13 as of August 😂 https://t.co/xcmH0BqPpX
In some youth football leagues, athletes are allowed to play beyond the age group if their birthday falls during the season. In this case, it appears that Johnson is much bigger than his competition and that officials of the youth league were likely to move him up. But clearly, that didn't happen.
Tyreek Hill comments on 12-year-old football player - "These kids built different"
Among those that commented on the photo of Jeremiah Johnson is Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The Super Bowl-winning wide receiver tweeted that if the young man is really 12 years old, then his son will never play football.
He then ended his tweet by saying that the kids are now just built differently, along with a laughing emoji.
"If that 12 year old really 12 my son not playing football, these kids built different."
If that 12 year old really 12 my son not playing football, these kids built different 😂