Highlights
Personal Profile
Johnson made a solid contribution in his first season at Cal in 2014 after transferring from Pierre College and previously playing at Show College. He finished with 14 tackles, 1.0 sack (-14 yards), 1.0 tackle for loss (-14 yards) and one quarterback hurry while playing in seven games all off the bench including six of the last seven. Johnson is expected to be part of the rotation again at the defensive end position in his final collegiate campaign in 2015.
Cal Career (2014 – Present)
Has played in seven games off the bench and contributed 14 tackles, 1.0 sack (-14 yards), 1.0 tackle for loss (-14 yards) and one quarterback hurry all in his first season with the program as a junior in 2014 after transferring from Pierce College and previously playing at Snow College.
Had a career-high six tackles vs. UCLA as a junior, while his lone career sack came at Oregon State for a career-high 10 yards and his lone quarterback hurry in his first game at Cal vs. Sacramento State
Sophomore (2015)
Listed as sharing the No. 2 spot with DeVante Wilson at one defensive end position on the preseason depth chart.
Had two tackles in the spring game.
Junior (2014)
Made a significant contribution to a defensive line that helped the Cal defense move up 48 spots from the previous season to No. 38 in rushing defense (144.6 ypg), cutting 44 yards off its per-game average allowed from the 2013 campaign
Played in seven games off the bench and contributed 14 tackles, 1.0 sack (-14 yards), 1.0 tackle for loss (-14 yards) and one quarterback hurry
Saw action in six of the last seven games after getting into only one of the first five
Had a career-high six tackles vs. UCLA, while his lone career sack came at Oregon State for a career-high 10 yards and his lone career quarterback hurry and first tackle in his first game at Cal vs. Sacramento State
Recorded three tackles in the season finale vs. BYU while he had two stops against Oregon and one each at Oregon State and USC
One of three players along with early high school graduate freshman Devante Downs and fellow junior college transfer Trevor Kelly who were mid-year enrollees and participated with the team during its spring practices
Had one tackle in the spring game
Pierce College (2012-13)
Earned Southern California Football Association American Division Pacific Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2013
Led his sophomore squad and ranked third in the SCFA’s American Division with 7.0 sacks (-38 yards) and tied for second on the club with 10.0 tackles for loss (-43 yards)
Added 34 tackles as a sophomore to lead the team’s defensive lineman as well as one fumble recovery and one pass breakup for a squad that won the American Bowl, finished 9-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play while leading the SCFA in both total defense (291.8 ypg) and scoring defense (20.5 ppg)
Used a medical redshirt in 2012 due to injury
Snow College (2011)
Played in two games as a 2011 freshman, recording four tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss (-34 yards), 3.0 sacks (-30 yards) and one forced fumble
Recruiting Notes (Junior College Class of 2014)
A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, 247Sports Composite, ESPN, Rivals and Scout
Listed among the nation’s top overall junior college players by 247Sports Composite (No. 108) and 247Sports (No. 135)
Listed among the nation’s top junior college weak-side defensive ends by 247Sports Composite (No. 6) and 247Sports (No. 8), as well as the top defensive ends by ESPN (No. 10)
247Sports Composite (No. 27) and 247Sports (No. 37) had him among the top junior college players overall in California
Received an 85 grade from 247Sports, while 247Sports Composite had him at 0.8464, ESPN at 77 and Rivals at 5.5
Woodland Hills HS (Class of 2011)
Earned WPIAL AAA All-Big East League honors as a 2010 senior when he recorded 16.0 sacks to break a school record
Team combined for a 21-6 mark over his final two campaigns from 2009-10 and finished among the state’s MaxPreps top 10 both seasons at No. 3 as a 2009 junior and No. 10 as a 2010 senior, adding a WPIAL AAA Big East title during his junior season
Johnson’s Career Game Highs
Tackles: 6 (vs. UCLA, 2014)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 (at Oregon State, 2014)
Tackle For Loss Yards: 10 (at Oregon State, 2014)
Sacks: 1.0 (at Oregon State, 2014)
Sack Yards: 10 (at Oregon State, 2014)
Quarterback Hurries: 1 (vs. Sacramento State, 2014)