Austin Johnson (defensive lineman)

This article is about the defensive lineman. For the fullback, see Austin Johnson (fullback).

Austin Johnson

No. 94 Tennessee Titans
Position:	Nose tackle
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1994-05-08) May 8, 1994
Place of birth:	Galloway, New Jersey
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Richland (NJ) St. Augustine Prep
College:	Penn State
NFL draft:	2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2016–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Member of Big Ten Network and ESPN freshman All Big Ten teams

Austin Hunter Johnson (born May 8, 1994) is an American football nose tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State. Although he attended a preparatory high school to hone his basketball skills, he tried football, and ultimately accepted a scholarship to Penn State. After he redshirted his freshman season, he was a key role player on the Penn State defensive line his second season, earning freshman all-conference recognition. Entering his second season playing, he was a key part of the Penn State's defense, which was among the best in the country stopping opponents' rushing attack.

Early life

Johnson was born in Galloway, New Jersey to parents Austin and Tammy Johnson, the third of their children – he has two older sisters. He attended St. Augustine College Preparatory School in Atlantic County, New Jersey with plans to play basketball in hopes of someday playing in college. He did play basketball, and earned all-state accolades his senior year. However, the football coach convinced him to try out for the football team, and he did. Subsequently, he was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who convinced him not only to commit to Penn State, but to keep his commitment after crippling sanctions were announced in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, as well as the arrival of new coach Bill O'Brien.

College career

"An unheralded prep player from New Jersey who spent as much time on the basketball court as the football field," Johnson redshirted his freshman season, but entered training camp in 2013 eager to make an impact on the defensive line, establishing himself as a candidate to start opposite DaQuan Jones, Penn State's star defensive tackle that season. Mentored by Larry Johnson, Jones, and Jordan Hill, Austin Johnson proved himself early in the season, and earned a spot in the rotation at defensive tackle with Jones and Kyle Baublitz. At the conclusion of the 2013 season, he was named a member of the freshman all-conference teams by both ESPN.com, and the Big Ten Network.

Entering his redshirt sophomore season firmly established on the defensive line along with converted defensive end Anthony Zettel. He sought to "lead by example"; Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop asserted that he was a consummate Penn State defensive tackle, drawing comparisons to Jones and Jack Crawford, among others. The Patriot News columnist Bob Flounders rated him among the most important components to Penn State's team entering the 2014 season. Early in the season, he did not compile many defensive statistics, but Penn State coach James Franklin commented, "[Johnson is] probably the most athletic 315-pound guy I've been around. The thing I like the most about him is every time I see him when he walks in the building or he's out at practice, he's got a huge smile on his face," going onto note that he has the ability to "wreck" an opponent's game. He has the ability to draw a double-team from opponents' offensive lines, which frees other defensive linemen, linebackers, and safeties to make plays at the line of scrimmage. Four games into Penn State's season, they had the best rush defense in the country, which Franklin attributed largely to the efforts of Johnson. He is majored in business administration at Penn State.

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans.

External links

• Penn State Biography