Tyrell Johnson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Marcellous "Tyrell" Johnson (born May 19, 1985) is an American football
safety for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Arkansas State.
at Rison High School in Rison, Arkansas
, competing at both running back
and defensive back
. As a senior in 2002 he earned All-State and All-Conference honors despite playing with a high ankle
sprain. He also helped his team finish with a perfect record and win the Class 8AA title. He finished his career with three interceptions, 2,725 rushing yards, and 49 touchdowns. He also ran track and played basketball
, starting on his high school's state championship basketball team in 2000.
at Arkansas State. After being redshirted during his freshman year in 2003, he became a starter in 2004 and never lost his job. During his freshman season he earned Freshman All-American and second-team All-Sun Belt Conference
honors. During his sophomore year he led the team in tackles
with 112 and earned All-Sun Belt Conference first-team recognition. During his junior year in 2006 he earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference for the second straight year after recording 63 tackles and an interception. His best season came in 2007 as he earned third-team All-American, first-team All-Sun Belt Conference and was the leagues Defensive Player of the Year after recording 94 tackles and six interceptions.
He finished his career playing in 46 games, starting all of them, with a Sun Belt Conference
record 363 tackles, 13 interceptions, and four forced fumbles. He also holds the conferences records for interception return yards in a season with 142 in 2007 and tackles in a game with 25 in 2005.
and got their fifth-round pick for the rights to move up from the 47th overall pick to 43rd overall pick in the second round.
On October 6, 2008, Johnson made his first career interception against New Orleans Saints
quarterback
Drew Brees
. He finished his rookie season starting 7 of 16 games, recording 31 tackles and an interception.
The next season, he became the starter at the strong safety position. Johnson started and played in 15 games where he recorded 57 tackles and another interception. This interception was made in the end zone against the St. Louis Rams
who were on the Vikings 9 yard line before Johnson killed their long drive.
Johnson's 2011 season was cut short, as he was placed on injured reserve
on November 29, 2011.
, played 10 years in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs
, Milwaukee Bucks
, Detroit Pistons
, and Toronto Raptors
His mother, Patricia, ran track for the University of Arkansas
.
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...
safety for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. 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 Arkansas State.
Early years
Johnson played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Rison High School in Rison, Arkansas
Rison, Arkansas
Rison is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County , Arkansas, United States. Its population was 1,271 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rison is located at ....
, competing at both 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 defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. As a senior in 2002 he earned All-State and All-Conference honors despite playing with a high ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
sprain. He also helped his team finish with a perfect record and win the Class 8AA title. He finished his career with three interceptions, 2,725 rushing yards, and 49 touchdowns. He also ran track and played 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...
, starting on his high school's state championship basketball team in 2000.
College career
Johnson played college footballCollege 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 Arkansas State. After being redshirted during his freshman year in 2003, he became a starter in 2004 and never lost his job. During his freshman season he earned Freshman All-American and second-team All-Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
honors. During his sophomore year he led the team in tackles
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
with 112 and earned All-Sun Belt Conference first-team recognition. During his junior year in 2006 he earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference for the second straight year after recording 63 tackles and an interception. His best season came in 2007 as he earned third-team All-American, first-team All-Sun Belt Conference and was the leagues Defensive Player of the Year after recording 94 tackles and six interceptions.
He finished his career playing in 46 games, starting all of them, with a Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
record 363 tackles, 13 interceptions, and four forced fumbles. He also holds the conferences records for interception return yards in a season with 142 in 2007 and tackles in a game with 25 in 2005.
Minnesota Vikings
When Johnson was available in the second round, the Vikings gave up their fourth-round pick to the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and got their fifth-round pick for the rights to move up from the 47th overall pick to 43rd overall pick in the second round.
On October 6, 2008, Johnson made his first career interception against New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
. He finished his rookie season starting 7 of 16 games, recording 31 tackles and an interception.
The next season, he became the starter at the strong safety position. Johnson started and played in 15 games where he recorded 57 tackles and another interception. This interception was made in the end zone against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
who were on the Vikings 9 yard line before Johnson killed their long drive.
Johnson's 2011 season was cut short, as he was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on November 29, 2011.
Personal
Johnson's father, Alvin RobertsonAlvin Robertson
Alvin Cyrrale Robertson is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1984 to 1993, and for one final season in 1995–96.-Career:...
, played 10 years in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, and Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
His mother, Patricia, ran track for the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.