Micah Johnson
Encyclopedia
Micah Johnson is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent. Previously he played for the Miami Dolphins
before being released on September 15, 2010. He was signed by the New York Giants
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Kentucky
.
and running back
for Fort Campbell High School, Johnson was selected as the 2005 Kentucky Mr. Football. Having played only two years at Ft. Campbell, his career totals there included 2,543 rushing yards, 46 touchdown
s, and 293 tackles
. Johnson played his freshman and sophomore years at West Potomac High School
in Alexandria, Virginia
, where he also starred in basketball
. A highly regarded recruit, Johnson chose the University of Kentucky
over Georgia
and Notre Dame
. Following his high school career, Johnson was invited to play in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
Rated the nation's top inside linebacker by ESPN
, he was also selected as a high school All-American by Parade
, EA Sports
, PrepStar and SuperPrep. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Johnson was listed as the No. 2 strongside defensive end prospect in the nation in 2006.
. He was voted to the All-SEC Freshman Team by the coaches of the conference. In the Wildcats' 2006 Music City Bowl
victory against Clemson University
, Johnson entered the game as a running back
and scored a touchdown.
As a sophomore, he recorded 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 pass breakups.
As a junior, he recorded 57 solo tackles, 30 assisted, 11.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Johnson earned first-team All-SEC honors, and he considered early entry into the 2009 NFL Draft
. However, Johnson opted to stay for his senior year.
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
. He was waived on June 21, 2010.
Johnson was waived on September 15, 2010.
Johnson was waived on September 3, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent. Previously he played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being released on September 15, 2010. He was signed by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
.
Early years
While playing linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for Fort Campbell High School, Johnson was selected as the 2005 Kentucky Mr. Football. Having played only two years at Ft. Campbell, his career totals there included 2,543 rushing yards, 46 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, and 293 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
. Johnson played his freshman and sophomore years at West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School is a public high school in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is located on 6500 Quander Road and is part of Fairfax County Public Schools.-History:...
in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, where he also starred in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. A highly regarded recruit, Johnson chose the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
over Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. Following his high school career, Johnson was invited to play in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
Rated the nation's top inside linebacker by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, he was also selected as a high school All-American by Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
, EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
, PrepStar and SuperPrep. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Johnson was listed as the No. 2 strongside defensive end prospect in the nation in 2006.
College career
Johnson recorded 29 tackles (20 solo, 9 assist) at linebacker in his freshman season for the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
. He was voted to the All-SEC Freshman Team by the coaches of the conference. In the Wildcats' 2006 Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
victory against Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Johnson entered the game as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and scored a touchdown.
As a sophomore, he recorded 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 pass breakups.
As a junior, he recorded 57 solo tackles, 30 assisted, 11.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Johnson earned first-team All-SEC honors, and he considered early entry into the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. However, Johnson opted to stay for his senior year.
New York Giants
Johnson was signed by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He was waived on June 21, 2010.
Miami Dolphins
On August 3, 2010, Johnson was signed by the Miami Dolphins.Johnson was waived on September 15, 2010.
Kansas City Chiefs
On December 8, 2010, Johnson was signed to the practice squad by the Kansas City Chiefs.Johnson was waived on September 3, 2011.