Jaleel Johnson

Jaleel Johnson (born July 12, 1994) is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa. Johnson was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round, 109th overall of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Jaleel Johnson
No. 94 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1994-07-12) July 12, 1994
Brooklyn, New York
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:316 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:Montini Catholic
(Lombard, Illinois)
College:Iowa
NFL Draft:2017 / Round: 4 / Pick: 109
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020
Total tackles:87
Sacks:5.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Born in New York City, Johnson grew up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn. As a teenager, his parents sent him to live with an aunt in Chicago where he had a better chance to thrive. He played football and wrestled at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, where he was a three-year starter as a defensive tackle and offensive lineman and was named first-team All-area. However, in the middle of his junior year, due to a coaching change and a losing season, Johnson transferred to Montini Catholic High School for his senior season, and in his only campaign at Montini, Johnson was named team captain and earned first team All-state, All-conference and All-area honors as well as prep All-America recognition after helping the Broncos post 12-2 a record while winning the state championship, finishing with a 70-45 victory over Joliet Catholic. He recorded 80 tackles, including five tackles for loss, three sacks and nine pressures. During his time at St. Joseph, Johnson also earned two letters as a heavyweight wrestler.[1]

Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Johnson received scholarship offers from half of the Big Ten. It was Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who convinced him to play for the Hawkeyes after he sent a personal letter that made an impression on Johnson. He took a few visits to Iowa City and decided to sign with the Hawkeyes. Shortly after Signing Day, Johnson decommitted to take a closer look at Michigan State one more time, but ended up committing back to Iowa.

College career

Johnson played at the University of Iowa from 2012 to 2016.[2] Johnson had to wait a while before getting significant playing time due to Iowa's depth in the interior defensive line. He redshirted in 2012, and played in seven games as a reserve defensive tackle the following season, and then had 11 tackles, 2.5 for loss, as a backup in 2014.[3] Given the starting role as a junior in 2015, Johnson garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Johnson stepped up his game in 2016, being named first-team All-Conference after leading his team with 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.[4] In Iowa's biggest game in 2016 against No. 3 Michigan, Johnson was one of the biggest reasons the Hawkeyes won 14-13, as he led the team with 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and a safety in the second quarter.[5] According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Johnson ranked sixth among defensive tackles in pass rush productivity with 43 combined pressures in 330 snaps.[6] During his five-year career with the Hawkeyes, Johnson posted 113 tackles, 18.5 of them for loss and 12.5 sacks.

Statistics
NCAA collegiate career statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes
Season Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
TotalSoloAstSckTflPDefIntYardsAvgLngTDsFFFRFR YdsTDs
2013 1010.00.00000.0000000
2014 11291.53.00000.0000000
2015 4522233.55.51000.0000100
2016 5630267.510.02000.0000000
NCAA career totals 113545912.518.53000.0000100

Professional career
External video
Johnson performing at the NFL Combine
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2 5⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 316 lb
(143 kg)		 1⁄4 in
(0.01 m)		 5⁄8 in
(0.02 m)		5.25 s1.84 s3.07 s4.62 s7.64 s28 in
(0.71 m)		8 ft 5 in
(2.57 m)		19 reps
All values are from NFL Combine except 40-yard dash and broad jump from Iowa Pro Day[7]

Johnson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round with the 109th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.[8]

Over his first three seasons in the NFL, Johnson played mainly in a reserve role, making four starts while also recording four sacks over that period, including 3.5 sacks in 2019. In 2020, Johnson moved into a starting role after projected starter Michael Pierce opted out of the season due to concerns over Covid 19.[9][10]

References
  1. Jaleel Johnson provides power in middle of Iowa defense
  2. "Jaleel Johnson provides power in middle of Iowa defense". Hawkcentral.com. October 28, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  3. Marc Morehouse (March 4, 2017). "> Iowa's Jaleel Johnson closing in on the payday". The Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  4. Marc Morehouse (April 23, 2017). "> The Iowa defensive tackle machine". The Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  5. "Johnson, Hawkeyes chase perfection | Iowa Hawkeyes Football". Qctimes.com. September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  6. PFF scouting report on Iowa's Jaleel Johnson
  7. *Jaleel Johnson | Iowa, DT : 2017 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile
  8. "Vikings Select Iowa DT Jaleel Johnson". Vikings.com. April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  9. "Vikings' Michael Pierce to opt out of 2020 season due to respiratory issues". Twin Cities. July 28, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. "After strong '19 season, tackle Jaleel Johnson could help new-look Vikings defensive line". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
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