Toby Johnson (American football)

Roderick L. "Toby" Johnson Jr. (born September 1, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Georgia after two years at Hutchinson Community College and was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft.

Toby Johnson
No. 90 – New Jersey Generals
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1991-09-01) September 1, 1991
Moorhead, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High school:Banneker (GA)
College:Georgia
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
USFL
IFL
NCAA
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:2
Sacks:0.0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Johnson attended Banneker High School in suburban Atlanta, where he played football, basketball and competed in track and field. Listed at 6'3", 240 lbs, he earned All-State honors as a tight end and All-Region recognition as a defensive end as a senior in 2010.[1]

College career

Hutchinson Community College

Johnson attended Hutchinson Community College from 2011 to 2012, where he was teammates with Cordarrelle Patterson in his freshman year. Entering the 2012 season as the No. 1 overall junior college recruit in the nation, Johnson normally drew double teams and still put together a solid season despite missing the final two and a half games due to injuries. Johnson had a career-high seven total tackles against Dodge City on September 15. He had six tackles each against Air Force Prep and Independence. He recorded 37 total tackles (12 solo) with 6.5 of them for loss and three quarterback sacks. He also had four passes defensed.[2] After the Blue Dragons won the Salt City Bowl, Johnson earned All-America honors along with three more Hutchinson teammates.[3]

During his time at Hutchinson, Johnson posted 87 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. He also had nine passes broken up, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.

Regular season statistics Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck Tfl PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FFFRBlk
2011Hutchinson CC12125029212.010.55000.000111
2012Hutchinson CC993712253.06.54000.000001
Totals21218749385.017.09000.000112

[4]

Georgia

On February 19, 2013, Johnson, who was rated a four-star recruit at defensive tackle and had narrowed his choices of more than 35 schools to Georgia, Auburn, Mississippi State and Oklahoma, signed a national letter of intent to play for the Georgia Bulldogs, becoming the first Blue Dragon to sign with Georgia in 17 years and Georgia's 33rd commitment of the 2013 class. He made the announcement at a news conference in the Humiston Athletic Center at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas.[5]

In 2013, Johnson appeared in only 10 games in a backup role for the Bulldogs due to a knee injury he suffered during his second season at Hutchinson and that was still affecting him when he arrived in Athens.[6] On the season, he was credited with just seven tackles. The following season, he played in 13 games making four starts and recorded 27 total tackles, with five tackles for loss. On September 13, Johnson made his first career start at No. 24 South Carolina. He had his first career sack against Troy in Week 3. Against No. 9 Auburn, he registered a career-high six tackles. Johnson was recipient of the David Jacobs Football Scholarship award for the second-straight season.[7]

Regular season statistics Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck Tfl PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FFFRFR YDS
2013Georgia1057250.01.50000.000000
2014Georgia1342714132.05.02000.000000
Totals2393416182.06.52000.000000

[8]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 312 lb
(142 kg)		 5.23 s1.83 s3.06 s4.65 s7.87 s26+1⁄2 in
(0.67 m)		8 ft 8 in
(2.64 m)		25 reps
All values from Georgia's pro day[9]

At Georgia's pro day, Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 5.23 seconds with the wind and 4.84 seconds against the wind. He had a 26 1/2-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot-8 broad jump, completed the 20-yard shuttle in 4.65 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.87 seconds and performed 25 strength lifts.[10]

Tennessee Titans

Johnson was signed by the Titans on May 11, 2015 to their practice squad.[11] He was later released by Tennessee after preseason cuts.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On September 7, 2015, Johnson was signed to the Jaguars' practice squad but was released on September 15, 2015.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears signed Johnson to their practice squad on December 16, 2015.[12] He was released on December 22.

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings signed Johnson to their practice squad on January 6, 2016.[13] In Minnesota’s fourth preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson made a diving interception that helped in the Vikings win. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Vikings as part of final roster cuts and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15] On December 12, the Vikings promoted Johnson to the active roster after placing defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd on injured reserve.[16] On December 17, 2016, the Vikings waived Johnson but was re-signed on December 20.[17][18]

On May 17, 2017, Johnson was released by the Vikings.[19]

Carolina Panthers

On May 18, 2017, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.[20] He was waived on September 2, 2017.[21]

Detroit Lions

On December 30, 2017, Johnson was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.[22] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on January 1, 2018.[23]

On August 29, 2018, Johnson was waived/injured by the Lions and was placed on injured reserve.[24] He was released a few days later.

Massachusetts Pirates

Johnson signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the National Arena League for the 2019 season. He appeared in 9 games for the Pirates and recorded 7 sacks.

New York Guardians

In October 2019, the New York Guardians drafted Johnson in the 2020 XFL Draft's open phases.[25] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[26]

Massachusetts Pirates (II)

In April 2021, the Massachusetts Pirates (now affiliated with the Indoor Football League) announced that they had re-signed Johnson for their 2021 season.[27]

New Jersey Generals

Johnson was drafted in the 2022 USFL draft by the New Jersey Generals in round 25 as the 5th pick as a defensive tackle. He re-signed with the Generals on October 13, 2023.[28]

Career statistics
Regular season statistics Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck Sfty PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FFFRFR YDS
2016Minnesota Vikings202200.0--0000.000000
Career stats202200.0--000--00000

References
  1. Georgia: All-Region 5-AAAA Football Team
  2. "All-American defensive tackle Toby Johnson picks Georgia". Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  3. "Lane, Johnson, Mesh All Named NJCAA Second-Team All-Americans". Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  4. "Toby Johnson Hutchinson Blue Dragons statistics". 247Sports.com. 247Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  5. Toby Johnson chooses Georgia
  6. UGA’s Toby Johnson goes from scout team to captain
  7. "Toby Johnson Georgia bio". Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  8. "Toby Johnson Hutchinson Georgia Bulldogs statistics". Sports-reference.com. Sports-reference/cfb. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  9. *Toby Johnson | Georgia, DT : 2015 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile
  10. NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Toby Johnson
  11. Rowe, Jake (May 11, 2015). "Georgia DL Toby Johnson inks free agent deal with Tennessee". 247Sports. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  12. Jones, Briar (December 16, 2015). "Chicago Bears sign Toby Johnson, Marcus Lucas to practice squad". 247Sports. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  13. Gonzalez, Jason (January 6, 2016). "Vikings promote DE DuBose, sign DT Toby Johnson to practice squad". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  14. "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set 53-Man Roster". Vikings.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016.
  15. "Vikings Sign 9 Players To Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018.
  16. Peters, Craig (December 12, 2016). "Vikings Sign Toby Johnson to Active Roster, Place Sharrif Floyd on IR". Vikings.com.
  17. Orr, Conor (December 17, 2016). "Vikings activate RB Adrian Peterson (knee) from IR". NFL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. Peters, Craig (December 20, 2016). "Vikings Place Tom Johnson on IR; Sign Toby Johnson". Vikings.com.
  19. "Vikings Sign Former Bears DT Will Sutton". Vikings.com. May 17, 2017. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017.
  20. Strickland, Bryan (May 18, 2017). "Panthers claim Toby Johnson". Panthers.com.
  21. Henson, Max (September 2, 2017). "Panthers trim roster to 53". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017.
  22. "Lions Sign DT Toby Johnson To Practice Squad". December 30, 2017.
  23. "Lions report 10 Reserve-Future signings". DetroitLions.com. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  24. "Lions part ways with Beau Nunn, Toby Johnson". Lions Wire. USA Today. August 29, 2018.
  25. Talbot, Damond (October 16, 2019). "XFL Draft Phase 5: The Final Rounds of the Draft, Find out who was selected". NFL Draft Diamonds. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  26. Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  27. Oliver Nissi (April 13, 2021). "PIRATES BRING BACK DL – PRESENTED BY PHOENIX COMMUNICATIONS, INC" (Press release). Mass. Pirates Insider. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  28. @USFLGenerals (October 13, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
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