Damaris Johnson

Damaris Keith Johnson (born November 22, 1989) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). After playing college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

Damaris Johnson
No. 13, 15
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1989-11-22) November 22, 1989
Norco, Louisiana
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Destrehan (LA) Destrehan High School
College:Tulsa
Undrafted:2012
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:52
Receiving yards:601
Return yards:1,025
Total touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Johnson was born in Norco, Louisiana where he was raised by his single mother Lori Johnson. According to Johnson, his first cousin Mark Young acted as a surrogate father and taught him how to play football.[1] He attended Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana where he became a three-year letter winner in football. He eventually became the all-time leading receiver at Destrehan High School with a career record of 154 receptions, 2,620 yards, and 30 touchdowns. In his senior year alone, he made 81 receptions for 1,228 yards, and 12 touchdowns. That year, Destrehan High School achieved a 14–0 record and won the state championship. Johnson was named the Louisiana Championship game Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the New Orleans Metro MVP, and was twice named an all-state and all-New Orleans Metro player.[2]

Johnson was highly ranked as a college prospect by several websites, but was not shown much interest by the major football schools due in part to his small stature.[3] His high school coach Stephen Robicheaux said, "If he were two inches taller, he could have gone anywhere in the country."[4] Rivals.com assigned him a four-star rating and named him the 11th-ranked college prospect in Louisiana and the 28th-ranked athlete in the nation. Scout.com assessed him as the 21st-ranked college prospect in the state.[2] Johnson selected Tulsa over Texas Christian, Memphis, and Louisiana Tech.[5]

College career

Against UTEP, Johnson set a Tulsa school record for single-game kickoff return yards with 211 yards on six returns. In the first quarter, Johnson returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown to equalize the game at 28 and shift the momentum in favor of Tulsa.[6] By the game's end, Johnson had accumulated 296 all-purpose yards and was named a Conference USA Player of the Week.[7] Against New Mexico, Johnson caught five passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns.[8] Tulsa head coach Todd Graham said that true freshman "Damaris Johnson is as explosive of a freshman or any player I've seen, freshman or senior."[4] He led his team and the conference in all-purpose yardage with 2,201 yards and set a Tulsa school record for single-season kickoff return yards with 1,319.[9][10]

In 2008, Johnson was named to the All-Conference USA second-team as a kick returner and All-Conference USA honorable mention as a wide receiver.[11] The Sporting News named him a first-team freshman All-American, Rivals.com named him a first-team freshman All-American as an all-purpose player and Phil Steele's College Football magazine named him a second-team freshman All-American kick returner.[10] On December 24, 2010, in the Hawaii Bowl game, Johnson broke the NCAA record for all purpose yardage with 326 in a 62–35 win for Tulsa.[12]

Collegiate statistics
Damaris Johnson Receiving Rushing
Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2008 Tulsa CUSA FR WR 14 53 743 14.0 10 41 327 8.0 1
2009 Tulsa CUSA SO WR 12 78 1,131 14.5 3 26 175 6.7 0
2010 Tulsa CUSA JR WR 13 57 872 15.3 4 55 560 10.2 7
Career Tulsa 39 188 2,746 14.6 17 122 1,062 8.7 8
Damaris Johnson Kick Returns Punt Returns
Year School Conf Class Pos G Ret Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD
2008 Tulsa CUSA FR WR 14 54 1,382 25.6 1 6 23 3.8 0
2009 Tulsa CUSA SO WR 12 46 1,131 24.6 0 18 256 14.2 1
2010 Tulsa CUSA JR WR 13 34 904 26.6 1 23 292 12.7 1
Career Tulsa 39 134 3,417 25.5 2 47 571 12.1 2

Suspension

Johnson was suspended indefinitely on August 25, 2011, following questions about his role in his girlfriend's arrest for felony embezzlement.[13] Johnson's girlfriend, Chamon Jones, was accused of ringing up $2,610 worth of merchandise over the course of two purchases at the Tulsa Macy's she worked at, but only charging Johnson just over $13 in total.[14] Johnson was initially questioned and released, but on August 31 Johnson was also charged with felony embezzlement by the Tulsa County District Attorney's office.[15] In October 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge and received a deferred sentence.[16]

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Johnson was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2012. It was announced on August 31, 2012, that Johnson made the roster. On Friday, September 21, it was announced that Johnson would start along with DeSean Jackson against the Arizona Cardinals, replacing the injured Jeremy Maclin. Johnson performed respectably, catching five passes for 84 yards in the 27–6 loss, but he returned to the bench when Maclin returned.[17] On Sunday, December 2, 2012, during Sunday Night Football, he returned a 98-yard punt for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, which is tied for the third longest punt return in NFL history.[18] He was released by the Eagles on August 30, 2014, and picked up by the Houston Texans.[19]

Houston Texans

On September 21, 2014, Johnson caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for his first career touchdown.[20] Johnson played in all 16 games for the Texans in 2014.[21] The Texans waived him at the end of preseason in September 2015.[22]

New England Patriots

Johnson was signed by the New England Patriots on December 1, 2015. He played one game against his former team, the Eagles, where he had one run for six yards.[23] He was later released by the team on December 16, 2015.[24]

Tennessee Titans

On December 17, 2015, the Tennessee Titans claimed Johnson off of waivers.[25] On May 9, 2016, he was released from the team.[26]

British Columbia Lions

On July 24, 2016, the BC Lions signed Johnson to their practice roster,[27] but was released on August 9, 2016.[28]

Personal life

Johnson and his wife, Chamon Jones Johnson, have three sons. The family resides in La Place, Louisiana right outside of his hometown Norco, Louisiana.

References
  1. Wilson, Aaron (August 30, 2015). "Texans' Johnson reflects on Katrina's aftermath". HoustonChronicle.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. "Damaris Johnson – Football". University of Tulsa Athletics. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  3. Armstrong, Jennifer (September 3, 2009). "Former Destrehan player Damaris Johnson spices up Tulsa attack". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  4. Brown, Mike. "Up close: Damaris Johnson". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  5. "Damaris Johnson, Destrehan , Athlete". 247Sports. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. "UTEP at Tulsa Box Score, October 18, 2008". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  7. "Tulsa's Duo of Brennan Marion and Damaris Johnson Earn C-USA Player of the Week Honors". University of Tulsa Athletics. October 20, 2008. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  8. "New Mexico at Tulsa Box Score, September 20, 2008". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. "2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  10. "Tulsa's Damaris Johnson Adds Two More Freshman All-America Honors". University of Tulsa Athletics. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  11. "Six Tulsa Players Earn All-Conference USA Honors, Three Newcomers Named to All-Freshman Team". University of Tulsa Athletics. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  12. "Damaris Johnson leads Tulsa to 62-35 victory over Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  13. Griffin, David (August 26, 2011). "Tulsa Suspends Damaris Johnson Indefinitely". www.newson6.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  14. "Tulsa player briefly jailed in embezzlement case". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. Bailey, Eric (August 31, 2011). "Tulsa's Damaris Johnson charged with felony embezzlement". Oklahoman.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. "Tulsa's Johnson pleads guilty to embezzlement". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 6, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  17. "Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals – September 23rd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  18. "Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys – December 2nd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. Pollak, Yoni (August 31, 2014). "Houston Texans claim OT Adams, CB Morris, & WR Johnson". House of Houston. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  20. Crosby, Jack (September 21, 2014). "Ryan Fitzpatrick hits Damaris Johnson with 44-yard TD pass (Video)". FanSided. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  21. "Damaris Johnson 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  22. Wilson, Aaron (September 6, 2015). "Former Texans wide receiver Damaris Johnson working out for Titans". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  23. "Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots – December 6th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. "Patriots place RB LeGarrette Blount on Injured Reserve; Release WR Damaris Johnson". Patriots.com. June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016.
  25. Morris, Jimmy (December 17, 2015). "Titans claim Damaris Johnson off waivers from NE". Music City Miracles. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  26. "Titans Agree to Terms with 11 Undrafted Free Agents". Titans Online. May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  27. Beamish, Mike (July 25, 2016). "NFL vet, Golden Hurricane legend Damaris Johnson joins Lions". Vancouver Province. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  28. Harrigan, Scott (August 9, 2016). "BC Lions roster transactions and moves". ISN. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
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