April 30, 2005

Johnson signs with Cleveland Browns

(Photos courtesy of NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY)

All-American linebacker Jamall Johnson, a Destrehan graduate, agreed to a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns last week.

Johnson, a 6-1, 210-pounder who has been timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, will convert to safety for the Browns. He made 217 tackles in two seasons with the Demons, including 32.5 for lost yards and 10 sacks.

Johnson, a LaPlace native and Destrehan High School graduate, was this season's Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year after being the SLC Newcomer of the Year as a junior, and was a first-team all-conference pick both seasons.

He helped lead the Demons to their first Southland Conference championship since 1998 as Northwestern (8-4) reached the Division I-AA playoffs for the second time in three years under coach Scott Stoker, and for the fifth time in eight seasons overall.

Johnson was also named an Division I-AA All-American by the Associated Press, The Sports Network and www.I-AA.org. He also finished fourth among 16 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award given by the Sports Network to the top defensive player in I-AA football.

Johnson will join the Browns’ mini-camp in the coming weeks. Johnson joins former Wildcats Ed Reed, Mike Scifres and Jeremy Parquet in the NFL.