Pronunciation
zee-ON-day
Johnson's Cal Career Game Highs
Tackles: 6 (at Washington, 2019)
Tackles For Loss: 2.0 (vs. Illinois, 2019)
Tackle For Loss Yards: 11 (vs. Oregon State, 2019)
Sacks: 1.5 (twice, last vs. Oregon State, 2019)
Sack Yards: 11 (vs. Oregon State, 2019)
Forced Fumbles: 1 (vs. Illinois, 2019)
Quarterback Hurries: 2 (twice, last vs. Oregon State, 2019)
Pass Breakups: 1 (twice, last vs. Illinois, 2019)
After Cal
• Bench pressed an impressive 22 reps of 225 pounds and ran a strong 4.82 40-yard dash at Cal's annual Pro Day on March 18, 2021
• Registered three tackles and one quarterback hurry for Team Kai in a 15-13 victory over Team 'Aina in the 2021 Hula Bowl
• Announced his intentions to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft on Jan. 4, 2021
Cal Career (2015-20)
• Played in 41 games including all 30 with 18 starts in his final three seasons as a 2018 sophomore, 2019 junior and 2020 senior and posted career totals of 59 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (-40 yards), 5.5 sacks (-32 yards), one forced fumble, nine quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and three passes defended
• Had career highs of 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss (-26 tackle for loss yards), 3.5 sacks (-25 yards), two pass breakups, two passes defended, one forced fumble and five quarterback hurries while playing in a career-high-tying all 13 games for the second consecutive campaign as a 2019 junior
Senior (2020)
• Started all four games in a season shortened by COVID-19 and contributed with eight tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard) and one quarterback hurry
• Registered three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard) against Stanford
• Had two tackles at UCLA and vs. Oregon, adding one quarterback hurry in the season-opener against the Bruins
• Recorded a single stop at Oregon State
• Granted a sixth season of eligibility for the 2020 campaign following the 2019 season, getting a year of eligibility back after missing two full seasons due to injury in 2015 and 2017
• Third-team preseason All-Pac-12 (Phil Steele)
Junior (2019)
• Honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection
• Earned Cal's Bob Tessier Award as the team's Most Improved Lineman
• Played in a career-high-tying all 13 games for the second straight season including a career-high 12 starts and contributed career highs of 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss (-26 yards), 3.5 sacks (-25 yards), two pass breakups, two passes defended, one forced fumble and five quarterback hurries
• Had a career-high six tackles at Washington
• Had four tackles against Oregon State and at Stanford, adding 1.5 tackles for loss (career-high -11 yards), a career-high 1.5 sacks (career-high -11 yards) and a career-high-tying two quarterback hurries against the Beavers, as well as a career-high-tying one pass breakup against the Cardinal
• Named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the Redbox Bowl win over Illinois, recording three tackles, a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss (-9 yards), 1.0 sack (-8 yards), his lone career forced fumble and a career-high-tying one pass breakup
• Also recorded three tackles and one quarterback hurry in the season opener against UC Davis
• Registered two tackles against North Texas and Arizona State, as well as at UCLA, adding 0.5 tackles for loss (-0 yards) vs. the Mean Green and one quarterback hurry against the Sun Devils
• Had single stops vs. Oregon, at Utah and vs. Washington State, adding 1.0 tackle for loss (-6 yards) and 1.0 sack (-6 yards) against the Ducks
• Did not start a game for the only time against Washington State
• Participated both at Ole Miss and vs. USC but did not record any stats other than one pass breakup against the Trojans
• Both of his tackles in the spring game were sacks and tackles for loss as he took down Chase Garbers for a three-yard loss on the first one and Devon Modster for a one-yard loss on the second
Sophomore (2018)
• Played in a career-high-tying all 13 games for the first time in his Cal career including his first two career starts at Washington State and vs. Stanford
• Recorded 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (-12 yards), 2.0 sacks (-7 yards) and three quarterback hurries
• Picked up four tackles both at BYU and vs. UCLA, as well as 1.0 tackle for loss and sack (-3 yards) against the Cougars and 1.0 tackle for loss (-5 yards) against the Bruins
• Recorded three tackles against Idaho State
• Had two stops against North Carolina and in the Cheez-It Bowl against TCU when he also added 1.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards) and 1.0 sack (-4) against the Horned Frogs
• Registered one tackle vs. Oregon, Colorado and Stanford, while adding one quarterback hurry against the Buffaloes
• Played but did not have a tackle at Arizona, at Oregon State, vs. Washington, at Washington State or at USC, but did have a career-high-tying two quarterback hurries against the Beavers
• Earned a Cal Jonathan and Judy Hoff Student-Athlete of the Week honor
Sophomore (2017)
• Did not play due to injury
• Had an impressive spring and played in the spring game but did not record any statistics other than participation
Freshman (2016)
• Played in 11 games all off the bench and contributed four tackles
• Had a single tackle on four occasions vs. Hawai'i, at Arizona State, vs. Utah and vs. Washington, adding his lone 0.5 tackles for loss of the season (-1 yard) against the Huskies
• Took 58 special teams snaps and served as one of three members creating a final line of defense for the punter
• Recorded one tackle for the winning Blue squad in the spring game
Freshman (2015)
• Redshirted
• Did not play
Central HS (Class Of 2015)
• Played both tight end and defensive end during his prep career
• Selected for the DB Guru Bowl following his 2014 senior season and made nine tackles for the winning North team
• Team won Tri-River League titles in each of his three varsity campaigns from 2012-14
• Caught 22 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns on offense in his senior season, while picking up 23 tackles and 4.0 sacks in limited action on the defensive line
• Senior squad reached first round of the Central Section playoffs
• Helped his 2013 junior team to a 9-4 overall record and a spot in the Central Section semifinals before finishing the season ranked No. 39 in the state according to MaxPreps
• Wore No. 45 in football
• Also played basketball and track and field, posting the second-best Tri-River League mark in the shot put for two consecutive seasons
• Involved in a mentoring program for local middle school Glacier Point
Recruiting Notes (Class Of 2015)
• Stars: 247Sports (3), 247Sports Composite (3), ESPN (3), Rivals (3), Scout (2)
• National Overall Player Ratings: 247Sports Composite (1690)
• National Tight End-Y Ratings: ESPN (32)
• National Strong-Side Defensive End Ratings: 247Sports (74), 247Sports Composite (81)
• Regional Overall Player Ratings: ESPN (257)
• California Overall Player Ratings: ESPN (168), 247Sports (175), 247Sports Composite (191)
• Ratings/Scout Grades: 247Sports (82), 247Sports Composite (0.8144), ESPN (72), Rivals (5.5)
• Participated at the 2014 Nike Football Training Camp in Oakland
Other
• Full name is Zeandae Salem Rafaye Johnson
• Born June 15, 1997
• Son of Carlos Johnson and Dawn Xallen
• Graduated from Cal in December of 2020 with a pair of bachelor’s degrees in American studies and legal studies
Last Updated
April 19, 2021
