Ronald Johnson
Encyclopedia
Ronald Johnson is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a practice squad member for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
. He played college football for the USC Trojans. Johnson was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
.
in Muskegon, Michigan
. He was rated as the best recruit in Michigan in the class of 2007 by Rivals.com
. He had 1,600 all-purpose yards as a wide receiver on offense in 2006, including 700 receiving yards on 26 catches (26.9 avg.) with 7 touchdowns and 347 rushing yards on 30 carries (11.6 avg.) with 4 touchdowns, 180 yards on 7 kickoff returns (25.7 avg.), 218 yards on 11 punt returns (19.8 avg.), and 3 touchdowns as a cornerback. Muskegon went 14-0 and won the 2004 and 2006 State Championship. Johnson chose to attend USC after being recruited by many other top schools including Texas, Florida
, Michigan
, Ohio State
, Michigan State
, and Notre Dame.
and Steve Smith
, Johnson made an immediate impact after arriving at USC. He joined junior Patrick Turner
who was the most experienced returner at the position. Johnson has been clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash.
, he had a 4 yard run reverse. He would complete his first pass against Nebraska
for 4 yards. Against Washington State
, he had 5 receptions for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns and a tackle. Johnson returned 3 kickoffs for 65 yards against Washington
. Against Stanford
, he had a 47 yard touchdown catch, an 23-yard run off a reverse, and 3 kickoff returns for 61 yards. Johnson returned 3 kickoffs for 73 yards and a 6 yard run against Arizona
. Against Notre Dame
, Johnson had a 37 yard kickoff return. He returned 4 kickoffs for 96 yards and had a tackle against Oregon
. Against Oregon State
, he returned a kickoff for 41 yards. In one of his biggest games of the season, he returned 4 kickoffs for 102 yards against California
. In another big game, Johnson had a 33 yard catch and returned 3 kickoffs for 94 yards. Against rival UCLA
, he returned a kickoff for 17 yards. In the 2008 Rose Bowl
, Johnson caught 2 passes for 15 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 34 yards against Illinois
.
, Johnson had 4 receptions for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
with the 172nd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft
. He was released by the 49ers on September 3, 2011.
' practice squad on September 5, 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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a practice squad member for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia 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...
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 played college football for the USC Trojans. Johnson was selected by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
.
High school
Johnson attended Muskegon High SchoolMuskegon High School
Muskegon High School is a public high school located in Muskegon, Michigan, and was the first high school in Muskegon County, Michigan.-History:...
in Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
. He was rated as the best recruit in Michigan in the class of 2007 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...
. He had 1,600 all-purpose yards as a wide receiver on offense in 2006, including 700 receiving yards on 26 catches (26.9 avg.) with 7 touchdowns and 347 rushing yards on 30 carries (11.6 avg.) with 4 touchdowns, 180 yards on 7 kickoff returns (25.7 avg.), 218 yards on 11 punt returns (19.8 avg.), and 3 touchdowns as a cornerback. Muskegon went 14-0 and won the 2004 and 2006 State Championship. Johnson chose to attend USC after being recruited by many other top schools including Texas, Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and Notre Dame.
College career
Following the departures of Dwayne JarrettDwayne Jarrett
Dwayne Jarrett is an American football wide receiver formerly of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.-Early years:Jarrett attended New Brunswick...
and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (New York Giants)
Steve Smith is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, Johnson made an immediate impact after arriving at USC. He joined junior Patrick Turner
Patrick Turner
Patrick Turner is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
who was the most experienced returner at the position. Johnson has been clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash.
2007-2008
Johnson began his freshman season making several contributions early on. In the season opener against IdahoIdaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
, he had a 4 yard run reverse. He would complete his first pass against Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
for 4 yards. Against Washington State
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
, he had 5 receptions for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns and a tackle. Johnson returned 3 kickoffs for 65 yards against Washington
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
. Against Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
, he had a 47 yard touchdown catch, an 23-yard run off a reverse, and 3 kickoff returns for 61 yards. Johnson returned 3 kickoffs for 73 yards and a 6 yard run against Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
. Against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
, Johnson had a 37 yard kickoff return. He returned 4 kickoffs for 96 yards and had a tackle against Oregon
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
. Against Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
, he returned a kickoff for 41 yards. In one of his biggest games of the season, he returned 4 kickoffs for 102 yards against California
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
. In another big game, Johnson had a 33 yard catch and returned 3 kickoffs for 94 yards. Against rival UCLA
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
, he returned a kickoff for 17 yards. In the 2008 Rose Bowl
2008 Rose Bowl
The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, was a college football bowl game. The contest was televised on ABC, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST...
, Johnson caught 2 passes for 15 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 34 yards against Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
.
2008-2009
During his sophomore season, Johnson continued to return kickoffs and remained a deep threat against opposing defenses. He already ranks 13th on USC's career kickoff return chart (620 yards). In the 2009 Rose Bowl2009 Rose Bowl
The 2009 Rose Bowl, the 95th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. Because of sponsorship by Citi, the first game in the 2009 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled...
, Johnson had 4 receptions for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.
2009-2010
At the end of August 2009 Johnson broke his thumb in USC's mock-game scrimmage at the Coliseum.San Francisco 49ers
Johnson was selected by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
with the 172nd pick in the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He was released by the 49ers on September 3, 2011.
Philadelphia Eagles
Johnson was signed 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...
' practice squad on September 5, 2011.