Everybody has a breaking point. For Jermaine Johnson, that came one night at Hargrave Military Academy in the spring.

Johnson was at the prep school in Chatham, Va. working towards qualifying academically. He had signed with Auburn out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in February 2007, but wasn't able to enroll on the Plains. He needed a higher score on the ACT.

Instead of Auburn, Johnson found himself at Hargrave that fall. Thinking he would qualify the second time around, Johnson re-signed with the Tigers in February, a part of the 2008 signing class. But Johnson found out soon afterwards, he had again failed to gain admittance into Auburn.

He wouldn't be able to enroll. It wasn't easy for Johnson to take.

"I was sitting there and just thought 'Damn, … what am I here for? Is this really worth it? Will I ever make it?' It was crazy," said Johnson. "I thought about giving up. I did. I just couldn't see it ever happening."

But Johnson didn't give up. He buckled down.

After spending the spring at Hargrave, Johnson moved back to his hometown in South Florida. He took prep courses for the ACT over the summer. He studied. He prepared.

Johnson found out recently, it all paid off.

According to the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder, he needed an 18 on the test.

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