Ar'mani Johnson never hesitates to reflect on the before-and-after football life he's lived the last two years. Today, he's a starter in the secondary for the SMU Mustangs, a cornerback looking to show in 2020 that he's one of the best in all of the American Athletic Conference.

He doesn't hesitate, because his story is a testimony. Literally.

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There are athletes who will thank God after a good game, and then there are those who go above and beyond to live consistently in a positive spiritual light. A trip to a Dallas church the spring of last year -- originally done as a solid for a teammate -- turned out to be one of the best moves for a football player looking to turn the corner.

"Faith has really helped me a lot," said Johnson, "and I just thank God every day."

Peel back the layers of the 5-11, 177-pound junior cornerback from Missouri City, Texas, and notice a frustrated individual from two years back. After a 42-12 loss to TCU the second game of the 2018 season, the SMU football team returned to the practice fields the following Sunday. Johnson, then a redshirt freshman, was lined up in the secondary and reacted on a wide receiver out route.

He went in to make the tackle, and then felt what he described as "excruciating pain." An exam later showed he not only dislocated his left shoulder but also tore the labrum.

"It was the worst injury I've had in football, by far," Johnson said.

Johnson's season was over. And couple that with him redshirting the 2017 season, playing two college football games in two years of being on campus was something that truly tested everything he believed in.

"I questioned God, because I didn't understand everything," Johnson said. "But I used that time I was hurt to get closer to God."

The reason, he said, was twofold. First, he knew he needed to learn the playbook better. And second -- and most importantly -- he took the time to study biblical teachings and apply the messages received in scriptures not only to football but also to life itself.

Fast forward to spring 2020, and Johnson walks with a level of serenity. There's a healthy mixture of humility and confidence as the incumbent starter at cornerback. There is no fear of the opposition and no jealousy of competition, and there is an expectation that every goal he wants is within reach.

Johnson will be the first to say he is benefiting from a faith that, personally, is stronger than ever.

"[Cornerbacks] Coach [Kevin] Curtis always wanted me to work on my positive light. He said that it would help the team," Johnson said. "I've been trying to step up and become a leader. This season, I want to be perfect in the little things, keep God first and become more of a leader."

Making the trip

During the 2019 season, Johnson spoke about how his revitalized relationship with God played a role in his overall turnaround as a player. He had three tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions in the Oct. 5 game against Tulsa. The first of those picks he returned for the game's opening touchdown.

For the year, Johnson had 39 tackles, 13 pass deflections and two interceptions -- huge numbers for someone who, at one time, didn't know if he'd even be able to play football again.

"That rehab process was very challenging for me," Johnson said. "I was in a sling for, like, two months, and when you get out of that sling, you have to physically push your shoulder and force it around, because it's so tight from the surgery."

After the injury, Johnson admitted he was down, and he was invited to attend church by one of his SMU teammates, offensive lineman Patrick Jones. They went to The Potter's House in Dallas, which is led by Bishop TD Jakes.

"That first day I was there, it felt like he was speaking to me," Johnson said of Jakes. "After that, I just started learning more and more about God. All the words he said just stuck with me, and I used those words every day on the field."

Johnson made worship more of a priority. If he couldn't attend church physically, he'd listen to online sermons. As he gave more of his life over to God, Johnson began noticing changes for the better.

It's an exhilarating feeling, one that doesn't make him forget about the recent past but does give him reason to believe nothing happens by chance.

"I felt like he sat me down that [2018] season for a reason," he said.

Overcoming adversity

On the field, Johnson is preparing for his junior year with the Mustangs. He just turned 21 last month, and he's looking to establish himself as a leader not only in the secondary but also on the entire defensive unit.

Johnson admitted his faith was tested during the first game of the 2019 season. SMU was on the road at Arkansas State, and Johnson was assigned wide receiver Omar Bayless.

Aug. 31, 2019, was an evening Johnson would love to forget -- but he keeps it in his back pocket for a reason. While he had a season-high 10 tackles, seven of which were solo, Bayless finished the game with 10 catches for 132 yards. Bayless also scored four touchdowns.

"That first game was, by far, my worst. I got scored on so many times," Johnson said. "But looking at that first game and the rest of the season, I know I can honestly say I got a lot better. God put me through some adversity, I think, to make sure I was fully committed to him and that it wasn't just a fluke."

He continued: "As a cornerback, you get scored on, and bad things happen. But then, it was like, 'Dang, all of my teammates are looking at me.'"

Humility, Johnson said, is something that always comes up when discussing his spiritual voyage. He had a solid 2019 fall camp and felt like he was prepared to have an all-conference season -- only to have Bayless bring him out of the clouds, so to speak.

After that game, Johnson said he dialed in at practices. He worked with Curtis in an effort to make sure he'd never have to live another nightmare like the one in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The next game, he played better in a win against North Texas. Then he played well in a against Texas State. It was the Sept. 21 road victory at TCU, however, where he had two tackles and three pass breakups and also helped to hold coveted wide receiver Jalen Reagor to only two catches for two yards.

In short, things were clicking for Johnson.

"It was the little things -- my first step, my hand placement on a receiver, what to do, what to look for," he said. "You're going to get punched in the mouth, but it's what you do after that makes you."

Johnson said lining up against SMU's talented offensive players -- a multitude of skill-position players -- has helped turn him into the player he is today. But with locking in to SMU football, he also said he has fully locked in to his faith.

And now, he's ready to see exactly how far up his personal escalator will go.

"My anxiety isn't high, and I'm not nervous," he said. "I'm playing a lot more loose. I think that's where God's come in. When I was a redshirt freshman, he said I wasn't ready to play at the college level.

"Now, I know I've got to do something to separate myself. It's paying off in the end."