MINNEAPOLIS — With the start of the new season, Ohio State fans and family members made the trip all the way to Minnesota to watch their Buckeyes play.

What You Need To Know

  • Family friends of Paris Johnson Jr. made the trip to Minnesota to watch his first start at guard

  • The Conleys are long-time family friends who rarely miss Johnson Jr.’s games

  • Monica Daniels, Paris’ mother, was excited to see her son emerge in the starting lineup

  • She’s also thankful for the support from Buckeye Nation

Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. is emerging, and earned his first start in the season opener against Minnesota. 

There’s no shortage of support from back home for Johnson who is No. 77. 

It started at the airport in Cincinnati. Tim and Sherry Conley boarded their flight wearing matching OSU home jerseys with Johnson’s name on the back.  

“It’s just been so exciting to watch him grow from this little kid that was coming into our house talking all the time, playing in our house to being this giant of a person,” Tim Conley said. 

Outside of Huntington Bank Stadium, the Conleys linked up with Johnson's family to cheer on their favorite Buckeye. 

It’s the Buckeyes' first game back to full capacity, so Johnson’s mom said they had to make their presence known.

“Paris is excited to run out behind Coach Day and not only feel his family and friends presence, but Buckeye Nation,” Monica Daniels, Johnson's mom, said.

She said for her son to learn a new position to crack the starting lineup makes him more versatile and a better player. Overall, she’s thankful to have such a great support system for her son. 

“Everyone that’s here played a huge part in Paris’ development since he started playing football at the age of five,” Daniels said. 

Conley said that won’t stop any time soon.

“For us, wherever he is, we’re going to be there to support him,” Conley said.