Kerryon Johnson was only a Tiger for three seasons (2015-17), but he feels a strong connection to Auburn. The former AU running back returned to the Plains on Friday to give back to a city that came to feel like home.

Johnson treated 20 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County to a surprise back-to-school shopping spree at the local Academy Sports and Outdoors. Each kid received $100 to spend on shoes, clothes and sporting equipment, according to Jordyn Elston of WSFA.

“Two cities I really love are Huntsville and Auburn. Those two cities have really made me feel at home, so anything I can do to help the future generations of those cities, I’m willing to do,” Johnson said. “Getting to do something like this is pretty incredible.”

“Hopefully this is something good that they can remember, reflect back on, Johnson added. “Something that when they get older, they feel like they should repay as well, and you keep that cycle going and good things will happen from here on out.”

Johnson still remembers being excited about having new clothes to show off on the first day of school, something that inspired him to treat the Auburn kids to a shopping spree: