Missouri Tigers Offensive Line Coach Brandon Jones: A Family Connection with Guard Cam’Ron Johnson.
Missouri Tigers offensive line coach Brandon Jones considers himself a father to three kids: his two daughters, 11-year-old Jordan and 7-year-old London, and 23-year-old Cam’Ron Johnson, a guard on the team. Though not biologically related, they share a deep bond.
“We’ve spent a lot of time together,” Jones said during the Tiger Talk radio show. “My daughters and my wife adore him. He’s family.”
Their connection began during Johnson’s recruitment when he was a teenager. As a three-star guard from Houston, Johnson received an offer from Texas Tech, where Jones was coaching at the time. Ultimately, Johnson chose to play for the University of Houston, but their paths crossed again when Jones became the Co-offensive Coordinator at Houston as Johnson started his college career.
Over time, they developed a mentor-mentee relationship. Jones helped Johnson progress from a redshirt freshman with minimal playtime in 2020 to a reliable backup in 2021, and eventually to a standout starter in 2022.
“He means the world to me,” Johnson said of Jones. “He’s been there for me both on and off the field.”
However, growth often requires tough love. When Johnson once overslept and missed practice, Jones enforced consequences by making him perform barrel rolls across 1,400 yards.
“It was brutal, and then I had to take a three-hour plane ride,” Johnson recalled. “But it taught me a lesson about punctuality.”
After a successful season at Houston, Johnson faced a tough decision to enter the transfer portal, which meant moving away from his family. The situation became easier when Jones accepted a position with the Missouri Tigers in April 2023.
“His move was significant for me,” Johnson noted. “Playing in the SEC at a top school has been exciting.”
Even though Johnson is hours from home, he still has Jones, who has become a father figure. “He keeps me grounded and focused,” Johnson said.
Jones agrees, even joking about their close bond when a radio host mistakenly called Johnson “Cam’ron Jones.”
While their relationship is unique, Johnson doesn’t receive any special treatment from Jones; in fact, it’s often the opposite. “We can talk more personally, and he can be tougher on me than with the other guys,” Johnson explained, adding that he doesn’t take it personally.
Through recruiting, family, and challenges, the duo supports each other and fosters a strong relationship built on mutual respect. “At the end of the day, it’s all love.”
