| Personal information | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | August 8, 1996 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Wylie (Abilene, Texas) | ||||||
| College: | Baylor (2015–2019) | ||||||
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020 / round: 7 / pick: 234 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Clay Johnston (born August 8, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Baylor.
Johnston missed several games in 2017. [1] He was a second-team all-Big 12 Conference selection in 2018 after recording a team-high 99 tackles. As a senior, he made 58 tackles, eight for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, and five pass breakups. Johnston only played six games due to a knee injury that ended his season early. He was again named to the second-team All-Big 12. [2]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Bench press | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | 30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 18 reps | ||||||||
| All values from NFL Combine [3] | ||||||||||||
Johnston was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round (234th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. [2] He was waived on September 5, 2020. [4]
On September 8, 2020, Johnston was signed to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. [5] He was elevated to the active roster on December 26 and January 2, 2021, for the team's weeks 16 and 17 games against the Washington Football Team and New Orleans Saints, and reverted to the practice squad after each game. [6] [7] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on January 4, 2021. [8]
Johnston made the Panthers 53-man roster in 2021 as a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in six games before being waived on November 8, 2021. [9]
On November 9, 2021, Johnston was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in Super Bowl LVI, recording one tackle. [10]
Johnston played in 23 regular-season games, making one start for the Bengals from 2021 to 2022, recording 11 defensive tackles and 14 special teams tackles. He led the NFL in tackles during the 2022 preseason. [11]
Johnston was signed to the Bengals practice squad on November 1, 2023. [12] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired. [13]
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(November 2023) |
His father, Kent Johnston, was a strength coach for over two decades in the NFL, and was also Brett Favre’s best man for his wedding. He has three brothers Kody, Kole, and Cade. Kody played collegiate football at Texas A&M University and Kole participated in collegiate football at Tarleton State University.
Troy Hill is an American professional football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Oregon.
Kevon Seymour is an American professional football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Seymour has also played for the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens.
DeShawn Shamaine Williams is an American professional football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson.
David Sharpe is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens, the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Football Team.
Demetrious Cox is a former American football safety. He played college football at Michigan State, and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Grant Haley is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at Penn State. Haley is best known for returning the blocked field goal against the then undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes for a game-winning touchdown in 2016.
Sean Chandler is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Temple and signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Jake Gervase is an American professional football safety. He played college football at Iowa.
Winston Rose is an American professional football defensive back who is a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Rose won the 107th Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played college football for the New Mexico State Aggies.
Matt Kaskey is an American professional football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Dartmouth and was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Wyatt Miller is an American former football offensive tackle. He played college football at the University of Central Florida.
Bravvion Roy is an American professional football nose tackle. He played college football for the Baylor Bears, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Raequan Williams is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Michigan State.
Tyler Hall is an American professional football cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2020 following his college football career with the Wyoming Cowboys. He has also played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won Super Bowl LVI, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Chris Westry is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Kentucky.
Tarron Jackson is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coastal Carolina.
Dicaprio Bootle is an American professional football cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska.
Badara Traore is an American professional football offensive tackle. He played college football at LSU.
Jonah Williams is an American professional football defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Weber State.
Christian Rozeboom is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Dakota State.