The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2025 BY EJ HOLLAND T iffany Johnson is the definition of a team mom. When the Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith football team charges out of its iconic Tiger Cage, Tiffany is right there, cheering them on. At kickoff, she's planted on the 50-yard line, her voice echoing above the crowd. And when the final whistle blows, she's on the field, wrapping her son, Travis Johnson, in a big mama bear hug. It doesn't stop there — far from it. Travis, the No. 18 ranked wide re- ceiver and the No. 150 overall recruit in the country according to Rivals, had a slew of major offers before giving Michigan a verbal commitment on July 4. Tiffany never missed a step. She was there on every single visit, sat across from countless coaches and asked every question that needed to be asked. "She's been a great mother," Travis said. "I know it's been hard for her, but she's always been there for me throughout this process and with everything in life. She is a great person to have supporting me. She's done everything for me." A single mother, Tiffany somehow finds time to attend every game — and even some practices — juggle the re- cruiting process and teach sixth grade English. Tiffany runs on a schedule not built for the weak. "There have been times where I have to go to my principal's office and say, 'I'm going to have to be off every single Friday from this month to this month,'" Tiffany said. "Having a supportive administra- tion really helped me feel comfortable. My principal understood. I'm very orga- nized and have my lesson plans ready to go. But I'm a mom before anything." Tiffany has been living the recruiting mom lifestyle since spring of 2021. Her oldest son, TJ, was a three-star wide receiver in the 2023 recruiting class who signed with West Virginia before even- tually transferring to Southern Miss this past offseason. Travis would tag along on all of TJ's visits. But he actually had no intentions of playing football like his older brother. In fact, Travis stopped playing football after fourth grade when he opted to fully focus on basketball. While Travis enjoyed traveling the country on the AAU circuit, his older brother served as a bit of an inspira- tion for a dramatic change. After years away from the sport, Travis decided it was time to buckle up his chin strap and return to the football field. "I just wanted to play basketball," Travis said. "But I started seeing my brother, and I just decided to pick foot- ball back up in eighth grade. I scored in the first game of the season on varsity ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING WR Travis Johnson And His Mother, Tiffany, Are Sold On Michigan Johnson is rated as the No. 15 wide receiver and No. 130 overall player in the country per the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average of the grades from the nation's three leading recruiting services. PHOTO BY MATTHEW HATFIELD/VIRGINIAPREPS.COM