Johnson's Cal Career Game Highs
Tackles: 10 (vs. Stanford, 2020)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 (five times, last vs. Stanford, 2020)
Tackle For Loss Yards: 11 (at UCLA, 2019)
Sacks: 1.0 (twice, last vs. Stanford, 2020)
Sack Yards: 11 (at UCLA, 2019)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 (twice, last at UCLA, 2023)
Quarterback Hurries: 1 (vs. Oregon State, 2019)
Pass Breakups: 1 (twice, last at UCLA, 2023)
After Cal
– Announced his medical retirement from football on Feb. 7, 2024
Cal Career (2019-23)
– Played in 29 games with 25 starts and posted career totals of 69 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss (-28 yards), 3.5 sacks (-21 yards), two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries
– Played in all 17 games possible during his first two seasons at Cal as a 2019 true freshman and 2020 sophomore before missing the 2021 and 2022 campaigns due to separate injuries suffered in a automobile accident in April of 2021 and training camp in August of 2022
– Returned to action and starting all 12 regular-season contests in 2023 before missing the Radiance Technologies Indepedence Bowl
Junior (2023)
– A national semifinalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award presented by College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization that recognizes college football student-athletes from all divisions for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances
– Earned the CalHOPE Courage Award from the College Sports Communicators In association with The Associated Press for the month of December
– One of Cal's four defensive players and one of only eight overall to start each of the 12 games regular-season games for his career-high in starts but did not play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
– Contributed 23 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-2 yards) and 0.5 sacks (-2 yards), as well as career-high-tying totals of one pass breakup and one fumble recovery
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at North Texas (W, 58-21) – started but did not record any statistics other than participation ... first game in 1,001 days since appearing in a home game against Oregon on Dec. 5, 2020
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Auburn (L, 10-14) – started but did not record any statistics other than participation
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Idaho (W, 31-17) – started but did not record any statistics other than participation
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at Washington (L, 32-59) – started but did not record any statistics other than participation ... team game captain
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Arizona State (W, 24-21) – 4 tackles
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Oregon State (L, 40-52) – 3 tackles
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at Utah (L, 14-34) – 2 tackles
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USC (L, 49-50) – 1 tackle
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at Oregon (L, 19-63) – 3 tackles
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Washington State (W, 42-39) – 3 tackles ... team game captain
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at Stanford (W, 27-15) – 3 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-2 yards), 0.5 sacks (-2 yards) ... team game captain
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at UCLA (W, 33-7) – 4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup ... career-high-tying fumble recoveries and pass breakups ... team game captain
– All-Pac-12 Preseason Third Team (Phil Steele), Fourth Team (Athlon), Honorable Mention (Pac-12 Media)
– No. 18 Draft Eligible Defensive End (Phil Steele)
– Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
Sophomore (2022)
– Missed his second consecutive campaign after suffering a season-ending injury in training camp
– All-Pac-12 Preseason Second Team (Phil Steele) and Third Team (Athlon)
– East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list
– Returned to the field beginning in spring practices after missing his entire 2021 sophomore season due to an injury suffered in an automobile accident
Sophomore (2021)
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Missed the season due to injury after successful surgery to repair a broken hip sustained in an automobile accident
– All-Pac-12 Preseason Second Team (Pro Football Focus)
– No. 54 National Draft Eligible Defensive Tackle (Phil Steele)
Sophomore (2020)
– Started all four games in a season shortened by COVID and was tied for third on the team and first among defensive linemen with 20 tackles, while adding 2.5 tackles for loss (-8 yards) and a career-high-tying 1.5 sacks (-7 yards), as well as a career-high-tying one pass breakup
– Registered a career-high 10 tackles, as well as a career-high-tying 1.0 tackle for loss (-6 yards) and 1.0 sack (-6 yards), and a career-high-tying one pass breakup against Stanford
– Picked up four tackles and a career-high-tying 1.0 tackle for loss (-1 yard) in the season-opener at UCLA
– Had three tackles vs. Oregon and at Oregon State, adding 0.5 tackles or loss (-1 yard) against the Beavers
– Named third-team preseason All-Pac-12 by Athlon Sports
Freshman (2019)
– Earned third-team Freshman All-American and third-team All-Pac-12 honors from Pro Football Focus
– Played in a career-high all 13 games with nine starts including seven of the last eight contests
– Contributed career highs of 26 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss (career-high -18 yards), as well as a career-high-tying 1.5 sacks (career-high -12 yards), one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry and fumble recovery
– Posted five tackles at Stanford
– Had three tackles including a career-high-tying 1.0 tackle for loss and a career-high-tying 1.0 sack (career-high -11 yards) at UCLA
– Had two tackles on seven different occasions vs. UC Davis, at Ole Miss, vs. Arizona State, at Oregon, at Utah, vs. USC and in the Redbox Bowl against Illinois, adding a career-high-tying 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards) in his Cal debut against the Aggies and 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard) at Ole Miss
– Had a single tackle four times at Washington, vs. North Texas, vs. Oregon State and vs. Washington State, adding a career-high-tying one fumble recovery against the Mean Green, a career-high-tying one quarterback hurry vs. Oregon State and a career-high-tying 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards) against the Cougars
Desert Vista HS (Class Of 2019)
– Compiled career totals of 110 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks (-82 yards), three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles
– Racked up the honors as a 2018 senior when he earned first-team 6A All-State, All-Big 25, All-Region and Tempe All-City recognition while leading his team to a 10-2 record while leading his squad to a 10-2 record and the second round of the Conference 6A state playoffs
– Compiled 64 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks (-74 yards), one fumble recovery and one forced fumble as a senior
– A second-team All-Region and Temple All-City choice as a 2017 junior when he contributed 32 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and one forced fumble
– Earned Temple All-City honors for the first of three consecutive years as a 2016 sophomore when he had 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack (-8 yards) and one forced fumble for a squad that finished 7-5 overall and reached the second round of the Conference 6A state playoffs
– Wore No. 65 during his final two prep seasons after suiting up in No. 68 as a sophomore
Recruiting Notes And Ratings (As Of December 18, 2018)
Stars: 247Sports (3), 247Sports Composite (3), ESPN (3), Rivals (3)
National Overall Player Ratings: 247Sports (914), 247Sports Composite (1116)
National Defensive Tackle Ratings: 247Sports (58), ESPN (68), 247Sports Composite (69)
Regional Overall Player Ratings: ESPN (145)
Arizona Overall Player Ratings: 247Sports (13), Rivals (19), ESPN (20), 247Sports Composite (19)
Ratings/Scout Grades: 247Sports (86), 247Sports Composite (0.8498), ESPN (76), Rivals (5.5)
Other
– Born January 9, 2001
– Son of James and Julie Johnson
– Has a pottery wheel at home
– Graduated from Cal in May of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies
Last Updated
June 8, 2024
