Los Angeles Rams Select John Johnson in 2017 NFL Draft
April 28, 2017 | Football
Johnson becomes the 10th BC player all-time selected by the Rams
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Los Angeles Rams selected Boston College defensive back John Johnson in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft Friday night in Philadelphia. Johnson was taken with the 91st pick overall and became the 209th BC player in school history to be selected in the NFL or AFL Draft.
Since 1980, Boston College had had at least one player drafted every year except 2005 and 2013.
Johnson is the second BC defensive back in two years to be taken in the third round of the NFL Draft after Justin Simmons was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Maryland native is the 10th player selected in the NFL Draft under Steve Addazio at Boston College.
Johnson is the 10th player all-time from Boston College selected by the Rams organization in the NFL Draft. The last player from Boston College selected by the Rams was quarterback Doug Flutie in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
Johnson played in 45 career games for the Eagles and finished his career with 169 total tackles and six interceptions.
In 2016, Johnson started all 13 games at free safety and finished second on the team with 77 total tackles. As a senior, Johnson was named team captain and was presented with the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award before the 2016 season.
Johnson was a key part of a BC defense that ranked on eight top-10 lists nationally, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) and 10th in turnovers gained (27).
Boston College's NFL Draft Picks Under Steve Addazio
2017
3, 91, John Johnson, S, Los Angeles Rams
2016
3, 98, Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos
7, 232, Steven Daniels, LB, Washington Redskins
2015
6, 190, Ian Silberman, OL, San Francisco 49ers
7, 208, Andy Galik, C, Tennessee Titans
7, 237, Brian Mihalik, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
2014
4, 113, Andre Williams, RB, New York Giants
4, 132, Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Seattle Seahawks
7, 229, Nate Freese, K, Detroit Lions
7, 243, Kaleb Ramsey, DE, San Francisco 49ers
John Johnson Bio
2016 (SENIOR): Started all 13 games at free safety … second on the Eagles with 77 total tackles, and first with 56 unassisted stops … Captain…Presented with the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award before the 2016 season…Accepted an invitation to play in the 2017 Senior Bowl ... led the team with three interceptions, racking up 47 return yards … notched 2.5 tackles for a loss of 19 yards, one sack, nine pass breakups, two fumbles recovered and one forced … tied for third in the ACC with three interception returns and ranked ninth with 0.92 pass breakups per game … part of the defense that ranked on eight top 10 lists, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) and 10th in turnovers gained (27) … forced a fumble and tallied seven tackles against Georgia Tech (Sept. 3) … set a career high with three pass breakups and registered four tackles against Massachusetts (Sept. 10) … nabbed first interception of the season at Virginia Tech (Sept. 17) while tallying eight tackles ... recorded five tackles, including first tackle for a loss of the season, in the win against Buffalo (Oct. 1) ... recovered first fumble of the season and added four tackles in the loss against Clemson (Oct. 7) ... tallied a team-high eight tackles in the win at NC State (Oct. 29) ... recorded second interception and added a fumble recovery against Louisville (Nov. 5) ... tallied nine tackles in the win at Wake Forest (Nov. 26) and added a third interception and first sack of the season … recorded a career-high 12 tackles to lead both defenses in the Eagles' Quick Lane Bowl victory over Maryland (Dec. 26), notching 11 solo stops … also had two pass breakups in the game.
2015 (JUNIOR): Started all 12 games, playing the first nine games at strong safety before starting the last three games at left corner back … totaled 63 tackles, the fourth most on the team, which included 45 solo stops … also collected three interceptions, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one blocked kick … member of the BC defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in total yards (254.3), and part of the Eagles' defensive backfield that was ranked fifth nationally in passing efficiency allowed (104.66) … his three interceptions ranked seventh in the ACC … registered seven stops, including four solo tackles, against No. 9/6 Florida State (Sept. 18) … forced a fumble, tallied his first career interception and broke up a pass against Northern Illinois (Sept. 26) … set a career high with 11 tackles – including eight solo stops – and added his first-career blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown, at Louisville (Oct.24) … recorded seven tackles and an end-zone interception against Virginia Tech (Oct. 31) … registered seven tackles, including a TFL, against NC State (Nov. 7) … tallied six tackles, an interception in the end zone and a forced fumble against No. 5/4 Notre Dame (Nov. 21) … collected four solo stops and broke up a pass in the season finale at Syracuse (Nov. 28).
2014 (SOPHOMORE): Played in eight games, making two starts … an arm injury sidelined him for the final five regular-season games, returning for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl … recorded 25 tackles on the season, including 28 solo stops ... tallied three tackles (one solo) and one pass breakup at Massachusetts (Aug. 30) … registered two tackles (one solo) against Southern California (Sept. 13) … charted four tackles (three solo) and recorded first career sack for a loss of seven yards against Maine (Sept. 20) … posted two solo tackles against Colorado State (Sept. 27) … recorded four tackles (two solo) and broke up a pass at NC State (Oct. 11) … had a career-high nine tackles (eight solo) against Clemson (Oct. 18).
2013 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in 12 games at cornerback and on special teams … made his collegiate debut in the team's season opener against Villanova (Aug. 31) … notched three solo tackles, including one tackle for a loss of one yard, against NC State (Nov. 16)… made one tackle at Maryland (Nov. 23).
High School: Earned first team all-county and second team all-state accolades … All-Gazette first-team honoree … recorded 50 tackles, six tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 pass break ups as a senior … named team captain as a senior … played for head coach Bryan Pierre … also played basketball and served as captain as a sophomore.
Personal: John Johnson … enrolled as a communication major in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences … recipient of the Jay McGillis '93 Memorial Scholarship Fund … John and his older brother Travis are the children of Tanya and John Johnson.
Season GP UA A TOT TFL SACKS INT FF/FR
2013 12 4 0 4 1.0-1 0 0 0/1
2014 8 18 7 25 1.0-7 1-7 0 0/0
2015 12 45 18 63 1.5-5 .5-3 3 2/0
2016 13 56 21 77 2.5-19 1.0-16 3 1/2
Career 45 123 46 169 6.0-32 2.5-26 6 3/3
Since 1980, Boston College had had at least one player drafted every year except 2005 and 2013.
Johnson is the second BC defensive back in two years to be taken in the third round of the NFL Draft after Justin Simmons was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Maryland native is the 10th player selected in the NFL Draft under Steve Addazio at Boston College.
Johnson is the 10th player all-time from Boston College selected by the Rams organization in the NFL Draft. The last player from Boston College selected by the Rams was quarterback Doug Flutie in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
Johnson played in 45 career games for the Eagles and finished his career with 169 total tackles and six interceptions.
In 2016, Johnson started all 13 games at free safety and finished second on the team with 77 total tackles. As a senior, Johnson was named team captain and was presented with the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award before the 2016 season.
Johnson was a key part of a BC defense that ranked on eight top-10 lists nationally, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) and 10th in turnovers gained (27).
Boston College's NFL Draft Picks Under Steve Addazio
2017
3, 91, John Johnson, S, Los Angeles Rams
2016
3, 98, Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos
7, 232, Steven Daniels, LB, Washington Redskins
2015
6, 190, Ian Silberman, OL, San Francisco 49ers
7, 208, Andy Galik, C, Tennessee Titans
7, 237, Brian Mihalik, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
2014
4, 113, Andre Williams, RB, New York Giants
4, 132, Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Seattle Seahawks
7, 229, Nate Freese, K, Detroit Lions
7, 243, Kaleb Ramsey, DE, San Francisco 49ers
John Johnson Bio
2016 (SENIOR): Started all 13 games at free safety … second on the Eagles with 77 total tackles, and first with 56 unassisted stops … Captain…Presented with the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship Award before the 2016 season…Accepted an invitation to play in the 2017 Senior Bowl ... led the team with three interceptions, racking up 47 return yards … notched 2.5 tackles for a loss of 19 yards, one sack, nine pass breakups, two fumbles recovered and one forced … tied for third in the ACC with three interception returns and ranked ninth with 0.92 pass breakups per game … part of the defense that ranked on eight top 10 lists, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) and 10th in turnovers gained (27) … forced a fumble and tallied seven tackles against Georgia Tech (Sept. 3) … set a career high with three pass breakups and registered four tackles against Massachusetts (Sept. 10) … nabbed first interception of the season at Virginia Tech (Sept. 17) while tallying eight tackles ... recorded five tackles, including first tackle for a loss of the season, in the win against Buffalo (Oct. 1) ... recovered first fumble of the season and added four tackles in the loss against Clemson (Oct. 7) ... tallied a team-high eight tackles in the win at NC State (Oct. 29) ... recorded second interception and added a fumble recovery against Louisville (Nov. 5) ... tallied nine tackles in the win at Wake Forest (Nov. 26) and added a third interception and first sack of the season … recorded a career-high 12 tackles to lead both defenses in the Eagles' Quick Lane Bowl victory over Maryland (Dec. 26), notching 11 solo stops … also had two pass breakups in the game.
2015 (JUNIOR): Started all 12 games, playing the first nine games at strong safety before starting the last three games at left corner back … totaled 63 tackles, the fourth most on the team, which included 45 solo stops … also collected three interceptions, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one blocked kick … member of the BC defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in total yards (254.3), and part of the Eagles' defensive backfield that was ranked fifth nationally in passing efficiency allowed (104.66) … his three interceptions ranked seventh in the ACC … registered seven stops, including four solo tackles, against No. 9/6 Florida State (Sept. 18) … forced a fumble, tallied his first career interception and broke up a pass against Northern Illinois (Sept. 26) … set a career high with 11 tackles – including eight solo stops – and added his first-career blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown, at Louisville (Oct.24) … recorded seven tackles and an end-zone interception against Virginia Tech (Oct. 31) … registered seven tackles, including a TFL, against NC State (Nov. 7) … tallied six tackles, an interception in the end zone and a forced fumble against No. 5/4 Notre Dame (Nov. 21) … collected four solo stops and broke up a pass in the season finale at Syracuse (Nov. 28).
2014 (SOPHOMORE): Played in eight games, making two starts … an arm injury sidelined him for the final five regular-season games, returning for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl … recorded 25 tackles on the season, including 28 solo stops ... tallied three tackles (one solo) and one pass breakup at Massachusetts (Aug. 30) … registered two tackles (one solo) against Southern California (Sept. 13) … charted four tackles (three solo) and recorded first career sack for a loss of seven yards against Maine (Sept. 20) … posted two solo tackles against Colorado State (Sept. 27) … recorded four tackles (two solo) and broke up a pass at NC State (Oct. 11) … had a career-high nine tackles (eight solo) against Clemson (Oct. 18).
2013 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in 12 games at cornerback and on special teams … made his collegiate debut in the team's season opener against Villanova (Aug. 31) … notched three solo tackles, including one tackle for a loss of one yard, against NC State (Nov. 16)… made one tackle at Maryland (Nov. 23).
High School: Earned first team all-county and second team all-state accolades … All-Gazette first-team honoree … recorded 50 tackles, six tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 pass break ups as a senior … named team captain as a senior … played for head coach Bryan Pierre … also played basketball and served as captain as a sophomore.
Personal: John Johnson … enrolled as a communication major in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences … recipient of the Jay McGillis '93 Memorial Scholarship Fund … John and his older brother Travis are the children of Tanya and John Johnson.
Season GP UA A TOT TFL SACKS INT FF/FR
2013 12 4 0 4 1.0-1 0 0 0/1
2014 8 18 7 25 1.0-7 1-7 0 0/0
2015 12 45 18 63 1.5-5 .5-3 3 2/0
2016 13 56 21 77 2.5-19 1.0-16 3 1/2
Career 45 123 46 169 6.0-32 2.5-26 6 3/3
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