D'Ernest Johnson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{infobox NFL biography
| name = D'Ernest Johnson
| image = D'Ernest Johnson Browns 2022 Camp (cropped).jpg
| caption = Johnson with the Cleveland Browns in 2022
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Immokalee, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 208
| high_school = Immokalee (FL)
| college = South Florida (2014–2017)
| undraftedyear = 2018
| pastteams =
- Orlando Apollos ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}})
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Second-team All-AAC (2016)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 989
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 4.6
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 53
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 465
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = J/JohnDE04
}}
D'Ernest Johnson Jr. (born February 27, 1996) is an American professional football running back who last played for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Florida.
Early life
Johnson attended and played high school football at Immokalee High School.{{Cite web |title=D'Ernest Johnson's High School Timeline |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/dernest-johnson/beh2jfTqEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm |access-date=October 8, 2020 |website=MaxPreps.com |language=en}} He helped lead the team to the Class 5A regional semifinals where they lost 49–34 to Plantation-American Heritage. Johnson ran for 143 yards, a touchdown, and a 99-yard kickoff return in a game against American Heritage School that included Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en}} A four-star running back recruit, Johnson committed to play college football at South Florida. https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/d-ernest-johnson-17127?view=pv
College career
Johnson played four years (2014–2017) at South Florida, where he rushed 421 times for 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns.
{{cite web | last=DeGroote | first=J.R. | title=D'Ernest Johnson Had Wild Profession Before Catching on With Browns | website=Heavy.com | date=2019-08-22 | url=https://heavy.com/sports/2019/08/browns-news-dernest-johnson-fishing/ | access-date=2024-10-17}} He finished as USF's career leader in all-purpose yards (4,186), receptions by a running back (73), and receiving yards by a running back (909).{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Joey |date=May 16, 2019 |title=Browns sign former USF tailback D'Ernest Johnson |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2019/05/16/browns-sign-former-usf-tailback-dernest-johnson/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} He also excelled at returning kicks. Johnson spent three of his four years behind Marlon Mack.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en}} Johnson saw limited playing time as a true freshman, then earned a bigger role as a sophomore, scoring five touchdowns on 653 yards from scrimmage and averaging nearly 27 yards per kickoff return. Johnson earned second-team American Athletic Conference honors as a returner in 2016, averaging 28.9 yards per kickoff return and 11.8 yards per punt return, including one score. Johnson's return responsibilities decreased in 2017, playing a bigger role in the Bulls' run-oriented offense, as he rushed for a career high 796 yards and added nine offensive scores.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Bob |title=New Orleans Saints Undrafted Rookie Profile: D'Ernest Johnson |url=https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2018/5/10/17331352/new-orleans-saints-undrafted-rookie-profile-dernest-johnson |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Canal Street Chronicles |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 5/8
| weight = 200
| dash = 4.81
| ten split = 1.64
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.34
| cone drill = 7.23
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 20
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout D'Ernest Johnson College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=130991&DraftYear=2018 |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Johnson was invited to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp but was not signed.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en}} Johnson spent the rest of 2018 fishing for mahi mahi in Key West with a friend.{{Cite web |last=De Groote |first=J.R. |title=D'Ernest Johnson Had Wild Profession Before Catching on With Browns |url=https://heavy.com/sports/2019/08/browns-news-dernest-johnson-fishing/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Heavy |language=en}}
=Orlando Apollos=
Johnson signed with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football for its inaugural 2019 season.{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Joey |title=D'Ernest Johnson, other locals shine in Orlando Apollos triumph |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2019/02/10/dernest-johnson-other-locals-shine-in-orlando-apollos-triumph/ |access-date=September 20, 2019 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} In eight games with the Apollos, he rushed for 372 yards and added 22 receptions for 220 yards.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en}}
=Cleveland Browns=
After the AAF ceased operations in April 2019, Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 16, 2019.{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2019 |title=Browns sign RB D'Ernest Johnson |publisher=ClevelandBrowns.com |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-rb-d-ernest-johnson |access-date=September 25, 2019}} After an impressive training camp, Johnson made the Browns' initial 53-man roster for the 2019 season.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream by making Browns |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=September 1, 2019 |website=Naples News}} Johnson showed off his versatility during the preseason, leading the Browns with 86 rushing yards on 20 carries. He also added seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also proving value in the return game. The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder returned six kickoffs for 127 yards and 10 punts for 63 yards.{{Cite web |last=Sodergren |first=Andrew |title=Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL |url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/08/31/immokalees-dernest-johnson-fulfills-nfl-dream-making-browns/2179978001/ |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Naples Daily News |language=en}} He made his regular season debut with one carry for 13 yards in the Browns' 2019 season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – September 8th, 2019 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201909080cle.htm |access-date=September 20, 2019 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He finished the 2019 season with four carries for 21 rushing yards and six receptions for 71 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=D'Ernest Johnson 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnDE04/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=October 8, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In Week 4 of the 2020 season, he had 13 carries for 95 rushing yards in a 49–38 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Dallas Cowboys – October 4th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010040dal.htm |access-date=October 8, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On October 21, 2021, he made his first career start against the Denver Broncos, as Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were both ruled out due to injury. Johnson ran for 146 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown, and was named Player of the Game{{Cite web|title=Broncos vs. Browns - Box Score - October 21, 2021 - ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401326423|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=D’Ernest Johnson ready as the next man up in Browns RBs room without Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/d-ernest-johnson-ready-as-the-next-man-up-in-browns-rbs-room-without-nick-chubb-|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=www.clevelandbrowns.com|language=en-US}} and FedEx Ground Player of the Week.{{cite web |title=Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson named FedEx Ground Player of the Week |work=WJW-TV |url=https://fox8.com/sports/browns-running-back-dernest-johnson-named-fedex-ground-player-of-the-week/ |accessdate=October 28, 2021}}
On June 4, 2022, Johnson re-signed with Cleveland on a one-year, $2.43 million contract.{{cite web | last=Moore | first=Thomas | title=Browns sign RB D’Ernest Johnson | website=Dawgs By Nature | date=2022-06-04 | url=https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2022/6/4/23154566/cleveland-browns-sign-running-back-dernest-johnson | access-date=2024-10-07}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On March 23, 2023, Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2023 |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign Running Back D'Ernest Johnson |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-sign-running-back-dernest-johnson |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Jaguars.com}} He served as the backup to Travis Etienne and as a kick returner.
On March 13, 2024, Johnson re-signed with the Jaguars.{{Cite web |last=Oehser |first=John |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Official: Running Back D'Ernest Johnson Re-Signs With Jaguars |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/official-running-back-dernest-johnson-re-signs-with-jaguars-2024 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Jaguars.com}}
= Regular season statistics=
| style="text-align:center;" class="wikitable" | |
| colspan="4" | Teams || colspan="5" | Rushing || colspan="5" | Receiving || colspan="2" | Fumbles | |
|---|---|
| Season || Team || GP || GS || Att || Yds || Avg || Lng || TD || Rec || Yds || Avg || Lng || TD || Fum || Lost | |
| 2019 | CLE
| 16 || 0 || 4 || 21 || 5.3 || 13 || 0 || 6 || 71 || 11.8 || 27 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
| 2020 | CLE
| 16 || 0 || 33 || 166 || 5.0 || 28 || 0 || 3 || 14 || 4.7 || 5 || 0 || 1 || 0 |
| 2021 | CLE
| 17 || 2 || 100 || 534 || 5.3 || 30 || 3 || 19|| 137 || 7.2 || 18 || 0 || 1 || 0 |
| 2022 | CLE
| 15 || 0 || 4 || 17 || 4.3 || 7 || 0 || 3 || 7 || 2.3 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
| 2023 | JAX
| 17 || 0 || 41 || 108 || 2.6 || 19 || 0 || 10 || 140 || 14.0 || 42 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
| 2024 | JAX
| 14 || 1 || 32 || 143 || 4.5|| 22 || 0 || 12 || 96 || 8.0 || 26 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnDE04.htm Career]
! 95 || 3 || 214 || 989 || 4.6 || 52 || 3 || 53 || 465 || 8.8 || 68 || 0 || 2 || 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=32608|espn=3139602|nfl=d-ernest-johnson}}
- [https://www.jaguars.com/team/players-roster/d-ernest-johnson/ Jacksonville Jaguars bio]
- [https://gousfbulls.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7171 USF Bulls bio]
- [https://slowgrindapparel.com/ Slow Grind Apparel]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnnson, D'Ernest}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:South Florida Bulls football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Orlando Apollos players