The Brothers Johnson

NOTE: This feature on Kendell and Quindell Johnson first appeared in the Memphis GameDay program Oct. 19 when the Tigers hosted Tulane.

Meet the brothers Johnson: Kendell and Quindell. Both are redshirt freshmen, and both are vying for playing time in the Tigers defensive backfield.

They also have other similarities since Kendell and Quindell are twins. The New Orleans, La., natives have been around each other and doing things together all their lives. Of course, it was a foregone conclusion they'd attend the same college.

Well, not so fast.

It was closing in on National Signing Day 2018, and Quindell was planning to sign with Memphis. However, Kendell was eyeing his opportunities and was interested in another school.

"At first, we didn't have intentions on going to the same school," said Kendell, who wears jersey No. 44. "I was going to a school in Indiana (Wabash College in Crawfordsville), and he was going to be in Memphis. That was a big step because we had never been that far apart from each other, not even a whole week."

Quindell, who wears jersey No. 15, said, "If it (choosing different schools) happened, we would have had some separation anxiety. Being that far away from each other, there would have been some moments when you wished you had your brother with you.

"It would have worked out fine, and I would have been ok in the long run. But, at that moment, it would have been like 'I wish I had my brother here'."

Indeed, it has worked out for the Johnson brothers, who are only the third set of twins to don the Blue and Gray the past 30 years. Kendell and Quindell are happy about their decision.

"When we decided to go to the same school, it was a blessing," said Quindell. "You get to enjoy time with each other. Being here with each other is the greatest thing that happened for us."

Kendell agreed, "Playing football with my brother gives me somebody I can connect with. It's a unique bond. At some point in life, we're going to eventually break away, but going to college with my brother helps me to learn more, and I have someone to push me."

Kendell and Quindell relied on that special bond to help them through their first season at Memphis in 2018 when both were redshirted.

"We knew coming in that we might not play the first year," Quindell said. "This summer, we'd work out twice a day in the turf room. We'd encourage each other to keep going, keep fighting because you never know when it's your turn."

Quindell's turn came this season, and he played big in the Tigers' 15-10 win over Ole Miss. He recorded his first collegiate interception versus the Rebels. And, the first person that Quindell celebrated with? His brother, Kendell.

"It was amazing," said Quindell. "You waited a whole year, and then you get your chance to play. Then, when it was my time, I made a play. One of the first people I looked for was my brother, and we celebrated."

While Quindell is seeing his first game action, he's also there pushing Kendell to be ready when his time comes.

"Now that I'm playing, I'm also encouraging him to keep making plays, keep showing the coaches what you can do," said Quindell.

Kendell, who shared the 2018 Glenn Jones Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honor with his brother, is feeding off Quindell's encouragement, and defensive backs coach TJ Rushing is taking notice.

"If you come to practice, you'll see Kendell flying around, making plays and doing it the right way," Rushing said. "He's getting better every day and waiting for his opportunity. He's seeing what happened with Q (Quindell). Kendell sees that as a reality and it can happen.

"They feed off each other. One's strength is the other's weakness and vice versa. They are two exceptional young men."

Kendell and Quindell also have their sights on the future, and that's where the twins have started going their separate ways. Well, maybe.

Kendell is a finance major. Quindell was a civil engineering major, but has switched to business.

"I'm more of a math guy, and he enjoys science," Kendell said. "That's probably the first time we made different choices, our majors and future career paths."

However, now that Quindell has changed majors, is there a chance of them staying around each other after college?

"I thought it was a good change," Kendell said of Quindell's major. "Somewhere down the road we could partner and start a business where I could work with the numbers on the financial side, and he could run the business."

Rushing said, "Any time you have a bond that's that close, it's special. It's great seeing them interact, giving each other a hard time, keeping each other close, keeping each other honest."

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