This is a story that definitively shows where there's a will, there's a way.
Or rather, where there's a Will, there's a way.
It's the story of a man hidden within West Virginia University's offense who finds a way to beat the odds, land on an NFL roster and play for four years.
It is the story of Will Johnson of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Understand first the odds of any of us making an NFL roster. In the United States alone, there are over 151.4 million males. There are 1,696 spots for NFL players. According to Sports Interaction, the average person is as likely to have an IQ of over 132 as an NCAA player is to ever play in the NFL. An IQ of 130 qualifies you for Mensa.
Also understand that at WVU, Johnson was anything but a star. He shared snaps at tight end with Tyler Urban. He blocked a lot. Yet today you can see him on Sundays being introduced as the starting fullback of the Steelers, wearing No. 46. A versatile fullback he is, who can also play tight end or tailback.
There are 19 former West Virginia Mountaineers in the NFL. Johnson is one.
"Definitely blessed," Johnson told the Gazette-Mail. "I got this second opportunity with the Steelers. Coach [Mike] Tomlin and the Steelers don't care how you got here. If you can put your hand in the dirt, do what you're asked to do and keep your nose clean, you'll play."
Johnson got there after signing a one-year restricted free-agent tender in 2012.
But let's backtrack to his arrival at WVU. He signed with Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers after a successful career at Centerville, Ohio, where he was a Big 33 all-star game participant. A couple of the current WVU assistant coaches were in Morgantown at the time.
"Bruce Tall recruited him," said WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. "Will was a wide receiver then. We left [to coach at Michigan] when he was a sophomore, but I remember him on the scout team. He was a hard-working kid.
"Now, did I ever think he'd be in the NFL as an H-back, fullback and tight end? If that's what you're asking, the answer is no."
"I'd committed to Cincinnati and [coach Mark] Dantonio as a safety," Johnson said. "Well, when he went to Michigan State, I re-opened my recruitment. I remember visiting [WVU] for a cold night game against Rutgers, when they had Ray Rice. Rich Rod said he'd give me a shot on offense. That's all I needed to hear. That day I committed."
In 2007, Johnson was one of four freshmen to play. He was backup wide receiver, but made only one catch. Then something happened.
"He came in at 180 pounds," Gibson said. "Then, when we left, he got big."
Johnson laughed.
"It was 185," he said. "Give me that extra five."
Whatever the case, Johnson was moved to H-back under then-head coach Bill Stewart and then-offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen.
"At the time, I was 200, 215 pounds," Johnson said. "I couldn't see moving to H-back. I thought I was undersized. But as spring went on it started to grow on me and I kind of liked it. Plus, I didn't have a choice."
He laughed.
"It paid off. It paved the way to this [NFL career]."
To the tune of almost $3 million over four seasons. Johnson is on but a one-year deal, but is tied as the Steelers' No. 21 highest-paid player.
At WVU, though, he shared snaps at tight end.
"I flew under the radar," Johnson said. "I'm a team guy. We had a ton of athletes then: Jock Sanders, Noel Devine ... I was perfectly fine with my role. I guess my claim to fame was the Marshall game."
Ah yes, the Marshall game of 2010. Many folks remember Geno Smith engineering a 15-play, 98-yard drive that day in Huntington to send the contest into overtime. But what you might not remember is Johnson snagged the touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter. Jock Sanders caught the 2-point conversion pass afterward and WVU went on to win via a Tyler Bitancurt field goal in overtime.
Johnson took four bowl trips with the Mountaineers: 2008 Fiesta, 2009 Meineke, 2010 Gator and 2010 Champs Sports. Then it was time to give the NFL a whirl.
"I remember being in the Steeler camps," Johnson said. "They had extra-cap bodies there. The odds were against me. But I did things right. I'm a quick learner. And I ended up starting my first game."
His brightest memory, however, arrived before that first game.
"It was in my first preseason game," Johnson said. "I remember running out of that tunnel. It was a night game against the [Philadelphia] Eagles. Surreal. A pretty awesome moment."
Since then, there have been many. Johnson started that first game in prime time on a Sunday against the Denver Broncos. ("Did my West Virginia intro and everything," Johnson remembered.) He caught his first touchdown pass that season while wearing the Steeler "bumblebee" uniforms against the Washington Redskins. And then, this season, he recorded his first rushing touchdown from a yard out against New England.
"That [rushing TD] felt great," Johnson said. "Everything is different on the goal line. Everything is moving so fast. I definitely have new respect for running backs."
At the time, with Le'Veon Bell on suspension, Johnson was the No. 2 tailback behind DeAngelo Williams. He's played tight end, fullback and tailback.
"[Offensive coordinator Todd] Haley does a good job utilizing me," Johnson said. "You have to respect me in the passing game. I can run routes and block. I have a lot of versatility."
"He's a multi-purpose player that can do a lot of different jobs," said Steelers running backs coach James Saxon. "He's smart. He's tough. He's done everything we've asked him to do. He's highly regarded around here."
"Coach Tomlin likes to say the more you can do, the better off you are," Johnson said. "I can do a lot."
Johnson is a far cry from his days at WVU, when he roomed with former defensive end Julian Miller. Yet he's just an hour and a half from Morgantown.
"I think of West Virginia as my second home," he said. "I can still make games. I went to the Georgia Southern game. It's nice to be this close."
Johnson reeled off the names of ex-WVU players that have been in the Steeler organization, current member Terence Garvin to Ryan Mundy to Wes Lyons, Ryan Clarke, Joe Madsen and J.D. Woods. "Mountaineers have been good to Steeler Nation," he said with pride.
The only drawback, Johnson said, is the Steelers have to share their facility with WVU rival Pitt. "I give them hell," he said. "I'm glad they're bringing that series back."
Until then, West Virginians can look north and watch a Mountaineer success story in the Steel City.
"He's earned his right to be here 10 times over," Saxon said. "I'm happy to be around him and happy to have the chance to coach him."
"It's a feel-good story," Johnson said, "but nothing was handed to me."
A Will simply found a way.