Vernon Johnson (American football)

Vernon Johnson (born April 17, 1992) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Midwestern State University, Southwestern College, and Texas A&M University–Commerce.

Vernon Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson (6) playing for A&M–Commerce in 2014.
No. 89
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1992-04-17) April 17, 1992
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:196[1] lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Brewer (Fort Worth, Texas)
College:Midwestern State
Southwestern College
Texas A&M–Commerce
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
CFL status:International
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · CFL.ca

High school career

Johnson attended Brewer High School in Fort Worth. During his senior season in 2009, he had 76 receptions for 1,006 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also lettered in basketball as well as track & field.[3]

College career

Johnson began his college career at Midwestern State University; he redshirted in 2010 and caught 6 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown as a reserve receiver in 2011.

In 2012, he transferred to Southwestern College, where he caught 49 passes for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns.[4]

During his first season at Texas A&M University–Commerce in 2013, he set school records in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,350), and receiving touchdowns (13), although his touchdown reception record was broken by his teammate Ricky Collins during the next season. He also added 496 kick return yards and led the conference in all purpose yards per game with an average of 183.8. In addition, he won the Lone Star Conference (LSC) wide receiver of the year award.[5]

Johnson (6) in action against Angelo State in 2014.

In 2014, Johnson totaled 77 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns, thus breaking his reception record from the previous season; he also tallied 304 kick return yards. He helped lead a conference championship-winning A&M–Commerce team that led the nation in both average points per game (54.1) and average yards per game (535.4).[6] The team also opened the season with a record-breaking performance against East Texas Baptist in which it scored 98 points, amassing 986 total yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.[7] This performance helped Johnson earn his second LSC wide receiver of the year honor,[8] while also being named an AFCA first team All-American.[6]

After his college career Johnson was selected to compete in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[9] Draft analysts projected him to be drafted in the 5th or 6th round of the NFL Draft, and he drew comparisons to Bruce Ellington. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Johnson as a "creative, instinctive receiver who has the feet and hips to make defenders miss and the acceleration to hit the big play either after the catch or down the field."[10]

NCAA stats
Receiving Kick Returns
Year Team G Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD
2010 Midwestern State Redshirt
2011 Midwestern State 8 6 146 24.3 99 1 0 0 0 0 0
2012 Southwestern College Played at Junior College
2013 Texas A&M–Commerce 11 70 1350 19.3 88 13 15 496 33.1 81 0
2014 Texas A&M–Commerce 12 77 1258 16.3 71 12 14 304 21.7 64 0
Totals: 31 153 2754 18.0 99 26 29 800 27.6 81 0

[11][12]

Professional career

Detroit Lions

After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent.[13] He was cut from the team on August 31, 2015.[14]

Wiesbaden Phantoms

Johnson played with the Wiesbaden Phantoms of the German Football League during 2016 season.

Ottawa Redblacks

Johnson signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on June 7, 2017.[15] He was cut from the team on June 18, 2017.[16]

BC Lions

Johnson signed with the BC Lions on May 9, 2018.[17]

References
  1. Vernon Johnson NFL profile
  2. Johnson named All–American
  3. "Vernon Johnson – 2011 Football". Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  4. "CCCAA". www.cccaastats.org. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  5. "15 LIONS GARNER LONE STAR CONFERENCE POSTSEASON FOOTBALL HONORS". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  6. "A&M-Commerce's Johnson Named AFCA All-American". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  7. "Lions Open Season in Record-Breaking Fashion Thursday". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  8. "Six Lions Earn First Team, Twenty-Six Total Honored by the Lone Star Conference". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  9. "Johnson, Bergeron Will Represent A&M-Commerce in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  10. "2015 NFL Draft Profile: Vernon Johnson". NFL.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  11. "Vernon Johnson – 2014 Football". Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  12. "Vernon Johnson – 2011 Football". Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  13. "Detroit Lions: UDFA Spotlight (Wide Receiver, Vernon Johnson)". 247Sports. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  14. "NFL roster cuts 2015: Lions cut nine players, one to IR". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  15. "Vernon Johnson - Ottawa REDBLACKS". Ottawa REDBLACKS. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  16. MEDIA, SUN. "Released Redblacks feel the real sting | Football | Sports | Ottawa Sun". m.ottawasun.com. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  17. "Lions Add Kevin Elliott, Four Other International Receivers - BC Lions". BC Lions. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
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