Jason Johnson (linebacker)

Last updated
Jason Johnson
No. 53 – Dallas Cowboys
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2001-06-01) June 1, 2001 (age 22) [1]
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: Rich Central (Olympia Fields, Illinois)
College: Eastern Illinois (2019–2021)
UCF (2022–2023)
Undrafted: 2024
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards

Jason Johnson Jr. (born June 1, 2001) [1] is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois and UCF.

Contents

Early life and high school

Johnson attended high school at Rich Central. Coming out of high school, Johnson decided to commit to play college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. [2] [3]

College career

Eastern Illinois

In the 2021 season, Johnson would lead the Ohio Valley Conference in tackles with 112. [4] Johnson finished his career at Eastern Illinois with 235 tackles and two and a half sacks. [5]

UCF

Johnson decided to transfer to play for the UCF Knights to continue his collegiate football career. [6] [7] In week two of the 2022 season, Johnson tallied 12 tackles in a 20-14 loss versus Louisville. [8] Johnson finished the 2022 season with 126 tackles with four being for a loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. [9] For his performance in the 2022 season, Johnson earned first-team all-American honors. [10] Johnson decided to return to UCF for the 2023 season as a fifth-year senior. [11] In week 12 of the 2023 season, Johnson notched six tackles, a sack, and he deflected a pass that was intercepted, as he helped UCF dominate Oklahoma State 45-3. [12] In Johnson's final season in 2023 he tallied 114 tackles with six and a half going for a loss, three sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. [13] Johnson was invited to play in the 2024 Hula Bowl, in which he was named the game's Defensive MVP. [14] [15]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m)		228 lb
(103 kg)		31+1⁄8 in
(0.79 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		4.66 s1.62 s2.67 s4.51 s7.38 s29 in
(0.74 m)		9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		18 reps
All values from Pro Day [16] [17]

Johnson signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2024. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Ware</span> American football player (born 1982)

DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant. In 2023, Ware was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Burnett</span> American football player (born 1982)

Kevin Bradley Burnett is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.

Kevin Lamont Hardy is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Polk</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Carlos Devonn Polk is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant special teams coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Grossmont College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Durant</span> American football player (born 1985)

Justin Ryan Durant is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton University.

Darrick Dewayne Brownlow is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Williams (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jason X. Williams is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Western Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaylon Smith</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jaylon Smith is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Wilson</span> American football player (born 1993)

Damien Wilson is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Thomas (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Joe Lewis Thomas Jr. is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina State, and was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Parsons</span> American football player (born 1999)

Micah Aaron Parsons is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Parsons played college football at Penn State, where he was named a consensus All-American, the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, and the Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP as a sophomore in 2019, before being selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. Parsons was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year following the 2021 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leighton Vander Esch</span> American football player (born 1996)

Leighton Vander Esch is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, for whom he spent his entire six-year career.

Trysten Hill is an American football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF.

Roderick Earl Carter is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Jabril Cox is an American football linebacker. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota State, where he won three FCS championships and was named the MVFC defensive player of the year before playing the 2020 season with LSU. Cox has also been a member of the Washington Commanders.

Aaron Robinson is an American football cornerback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and UCF, and was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Johnson II</span> American football player (born 1999)

Jermaine Curtis Johnson II is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Independence and Georgia before transferring to Florida State in 2021 where he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson was drafted by the New York Jets with the twenty-sixth overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

James Houston IV is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida before transferring to Jackson State.

Luke Masterson is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wake Forest.

Tatum Bethune is an American football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCF Knights and the Florida State Seminoles.

References

  1. 1 2 "Jason Johnson". ourlads.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. ↑ Tim, Edgy (24 January 2019). "Eastern Illinois adds three Chicagoland names to its Class of 2019". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Jason Johnson". On3.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Helwig, Brandon (20 March 2022). "UCF lands All-American LB Jason Johnson: 'This is where I wanted to be'". Rivals.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Jason Johnson". The Football Database. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  6. ↑ Smith, Brian (20 March 2022). "FCS All-American Linebacker Jason Johnson Transferring to UCF". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Beede, Jason (21 March 2022). "UCF adds experienced FCS linebacker from transfer portal". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Beede, Jason (15 September 2022). "Transfer LB Jason Johnson sees early success at UCF". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Jason Johnson 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Beede, Jason (27 December 2022). "Key decision awaits UCF senior linebacker Jason Johnson". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Beede, Jason (31 December 2022). "UCF's Jason Johnson, Ricky Barber to return for 2023 season". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  12. ↑ Layberger, Tom. "UCF's Jason Johnson Winding Down Accomplished Playing, Academic Career". Forbes. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "Jason Johnson 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  14. ↑ Hays, Chris (12 January 2024). "Four UCF players set for Hula Bowl at Bounce House". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Hays, Chris (13 January 2024). "UCF's Lokahi Pauole completes excellent adventure from Hawaii to Orlando to Hula". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Jason Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Jason Johnson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ Harris, Nick (May 8, 2024). "12 undrafted free agents expected for rookie camp". DallasCowboys.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.