Johnny Buchanan
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Johnny Buchanan
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number = 33
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|7|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Brick Township, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 230
| high_school = Brick Township (NJ)
St. John Vianney (NJ)
| college = Delaware (2018–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- St. Louis Battlehawks ({{UFL Year|2024}})
| status =
| highlights =
- First-team FCS All-American (2022)
- 3× All-CAA (2020-2022)
| statlabel1 =
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 =
| statvalue2 =
| pfr =
}}
Johnny Christian Buchanan (born July 25, 1999){{Cite web|url=https://bluehens.com/sports/football/roster/johnny-buchanan/26350|publisher=Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens|title=Johnny Buchanan}} is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Delaware.
Early life
Buchanan was born on July 25, 1999. His father, John, played football at Rutgers, while his cousin Collin Olsen was a running back at FIU; his great uncle, Joe Auer, played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, scoring a touchdown on the first play in the Dolphins' history.{{Cite web|url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/04/2023-nfl-draft-player-profiles-delaware-lb-johnny-buchanan/|website=SteelersDepot.com|title=2023 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Delaware LB Johnny Buchanan|author=Carney, Josh|date=April 17, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123692061/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 7, 2019|page=C1, [https://newspapers.com/clip/123692142/the-news-journal/ C3]|author=Tresolini, Kevin|title=Next Man Up: Delaware's Buchanan is ready to fill the void left at linebacker}} {{Open access}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AuerJo00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Joe Auer Stats}}
Buchanan grew up in Brick, New Jersey, and played freshman football at Brick Township High School before transferring to St. John Vianney High School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123690400/the-news-journal/|newspaper=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 4, 2022|page=B1, [https://newspapers.com/clip/123690478/the-news-journal/ B7]|author=Tesolini, Kevin|title=UD football has nation's top tackler; can he stop nation's top rusher?}} {{Open access}} He was a two-way player at St. John Vianney, seeing time at running back and linebacker, and was considered one of their most versatile players.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123692477/asbury-park-press/|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 17, 2016|page=C1, [https://newspapers.com/clip/123692564/asbury-park-press/ C3]|title=SJV's Buchanan a heavy hitter|author=Rotolo, Chris}} {{Open access}} He followed the philosophy used by All-American East Carolina back Scott Harley, called "seek and destroy" – to "punish [the defenders] before they punish you."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123693211/asbury-park-press/|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 22, 2021|page=B5, [https://newspapers.com/clip/123693288/asbury-park-press/ B8]|title=These bruisers brought the boom|author=Melvin, Chris}} {{Open access}} Buchanan said, "when I played running back, some of the most fun plays were making a quick move and going 70-yards untouched – but something about running through somebody's face is unmatched – so really I had the same mentality on both sides of the ball: make my opponent pay for carrying the ball or trying to tackle me." He studied players such as Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Sean Taylor and Lawrence Taylor to improve his hitting style.
As a junior at St. John Vianney in 2016, Buchanan totaled 140{{NoteTag|Reported as 140 in the Asbury Park Press, 139 on Patch.com, 145 on the University of Delaware website.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123693966/asbury-park-press/|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 7, 2017|page=F16|title=Buchanan set to be a double threat|author=Rotolo, Chris}} {{Open access}}{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/sjvs-johnny-buchanan-headed-university-delaware|website=Patch.com|author=Williams, Carol|title=SJV's Johnny Buchanan Headed To University Of Delaware |date=December 20, 2017}}}} tackles, placing eighth in the state, four sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries and two interceptions as he helped his school reach the playoff semifinals. He additionally posted 433 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns{{NoteTag|The Delaware website records 500 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while the Asbury Park Press reported 433 yards and 12 touchdowns.}} on offense, being named first-team All-Shore, second-team All-State, All-Division, and the conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Buchanan was named as a senior first-team All-State, All-Division, first-team All-Shore, All-Metro, the conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Class A Central Defensive Player of the Year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123696453/asbury-park-press/|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 17, 2017|page=C11|title=All-Shore: Football: Defense|author=Falk, Steve}} {{Open access}} On offense, he posted 1,393 yards off 152 attempts with 17 touchdowns, and defensively he recorded 121 tackles, three sacks and an interception.{{NoteTag|The Delaware website lists 1,400 rushing yards and 130 tackles with four sacks, while the Asbury Park Press reported 1,393 rushing yards, 121 tackles and three sacks.}} While Buchanan was with St. John Vianney, they compiled an overall record of 31–3 and won the conference championship each year; he was twice their team captain and named their most valuable player.
College career
Buchanan received several offers to play college football, including from FCS teams Monmouth, Elon and Albany, but committed to Delaware after getting their offer on his birthday. He spent his true freshman year, 2018, being mentored by Troy Reeder and Charles Bell while being a backup. He appeared in ten games, none of which he started, and totaled seven tackles and one interception.{{Cite web|url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/johnny-buchanan-bucha0027|website=The Football Database|title=Johnny Buchanan Stats}} After both Reeder and Bell graduated in 2019, Buchanan was able to see more action. He appeared in nine games, starting five, and made 47 tackles, additionally returning an interception against Stony Brook 33 yards for the only score of his career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/knight-buchanan-tds-lift-delaware-over-stony-brook-17-10/|work=CBS Sports|title=Knight, Buchanan TDs lift Delaware over Stony Brook 17-10|date=November 16, 2019|agency=Associated Press}}
In the 2020 season, played in spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Buchanan started all eight games and recorded 42 tackles, placing second on the team, with one sack, helping them qualify for the playoffs. He made at least three tackles in every game and was named first-team All-CAA Football after the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sports/2021/04/21/player-year-lee-leads-blue-hens-all-caa-football/7291457002/|newspaper=The News Journal|title=UD football places 7 on all-conference first team, including offensive player of the year|date=April 21, 2021|author=Tresolini, Kevin}} Buchanan appeared in all 11 games the following season, starting eight while leading the team with 81 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, in addition to one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a single interception. After the year, he was selected second-team all-conference.{{Cite news|url=https://baytobaynews.com/delaware/stories/roundup-delaware-state-university-puts-17-football-players-on-all-meac,64557|newspaper=Delaware State News|title=Roundup: Delaware State University puts 17 football players on All-MEAC|date=November 23, 2021}}
After the firing of Danny Rocco in 2022, Buchanan entered the NCAA transfer portal, although he later decided to stay at Delaware. In what would be his final season at the school, he totaled 150 tackles, leading the entire FCS, and was named first-team All-CAA as well as to seven All-America teams.{{Cite web|url=https://insidetheiggles.com/2023/04/04/eagles-delaware-linebacker-pro-day/|website=FanSided|title=Eagles news: Philadelphia invites Delaware linebacker to local pro day|author=Quattro, Jackie|date=April 4, 2023}} He also recorded 1.5 sacks, 8.5 {{abbr|TFLs|tackles-for-loss}}, and one forced fumble with one recovered, being a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for best defensive player in the FCS.{{Cite web|url=https://skylinesportsmt.com/illinois-states-vandenburgh-wins-stats-perform-buck-buchanan-award/|website=Skyline Sports|title=Illinois State's Vandenburgh wins Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award|date=January 7, 2023|author=Nuanez, Colter}} Buchanan posted in five games over 15 tackles, including a team record-tying 23 tackles in their win over FBS opponent Navy, for which he was named the national defensive player of the week.{{Cite web|url=https://caasports.com/news/2022/9/5/football-delawares-buchanan-honored-as-fedex-ground-fcs-national-defensive-player-of-the-week.aspx|publisher=Colonial Athletic Association|date=September 5, 2022|title=Delaware's Buchanan Honored As FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player Of the Week|author=Washburn, Rob}}{{Cite news|url=https://baytobaynews.com/delaware/stories/blue-hens-give-carty-a-win-over-navy-in-his-debut-as-coach,87853|newspaper=Delaware State News|title=Blue Hens give Carty a win over Navy in his debut as coach|date=September 3, 2022|author=Walter, Andy|url-access=subscription}}
Buchanan declared for the NFL draft following the 2022 season, finishing his stint at Delaware with a total of 326 tackles, including 16.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles with two fumble recoveries.{{Cite tweet |author=Buchanan, Johnny |user=J_Buchanan_1 |number=1600577127824375845 |date=December 7, 2022 |title=All glory to God. Time to go get it.}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/3
| weight = 228
| arm span = 30 3/8
| hand span = 9
| dash = 4.58
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split =
| shuttle = 4.10
| cone drill = 7.2
| vertical = 40
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 7
| bench = 22
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from pro day
}}
Buchanan attended Delaware's pro day, at which he posted a 40-inch vertical jump, a 4.58 40-yard dash and 22 bench press repetitions.{{Cite news|url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/01/eagles-news-johnny-buchanan-2023-nfl-draft-local-pro-day-tryout/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Report: Delaware linebacker Johnny Buchanan to participate in Eagles' local pro day|date=April 1, 2023|author=Erby, Glenn}}{{Cite news|url=https://milfordlive.com/9-participate-in-delaware-football-pro-day/|newspaper=Milford LIVE|title=9 participate in Delaware football Pro-Day|author=Alessandrini, Nick|date=March 23, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://thedraftnetwork.com/2023-nfl-draft-pro-day-standouts/|publisher=The Draft Network|title=NFL Draft 2023: 13 Pro Day Standouts You Need To Know|date=March 27, 2023|author=Fowler, Ryan}} Afterwards, he was invited to attend local pro days with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and New York Jets.{{Cite news|url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/02/delaware-johnny-buchanan-will-attend-new-york-giants-local-pro-day/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Delaware LB Johnny Buchanan will attend Giants' local pro day|author=Benton, Dan|date=April 2, 2023}} He was projected as either a late-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft or a priority undrafted free agent. Buchanan ended up going unselected in the draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/full-list-every-pick-2023-nfl-draft|publisher=NBC Sports|title=Full list of every pick from the 2023 NFL Draft|date=April 29, 2023|author=Reardon, Logan}} He was afterwards invited to the rookie minicamp of the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{Cite web|url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/delaware-lb-johnny-buchanan-invited-to-steelers-rookie-minicamp/|website=SteelersDepot.com|date=May 10, 2023|author=Carney, Josh|title=Delaware LB Johnny Buchanan Invited To Steelers Rookie Minicamp}}
= St. Louis Battlehawks =
On June 16, 2023, Buchanan was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL's Rookie Draft.{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2023 |title=St. Louis Battlehawks Select 10 Players in XFL Rookie Draft |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/st-louis-battlehawks-select-10-players-in-xfl-rookie-draft/n-5976181 |access-date=June 17, 2023 |website=OurSports Central |language=en}} He signed a letter of intent on October 18, 2023.{{cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |website=XFL.com |access-date=December 25, 2023}} He was placed on injured reserve on March 4, 2024.{{Cite news |date=March 4, 2024 |title=UFL Player Transactions, Monday March 4, 2024 |url=https://uflboard.com/news/ufl-player-transactions-monday-march-4-2024/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=UFLBoard.com}}
References
=Notes=
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=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Johnny}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football running backs
Category:Sportspeople from Brick Township, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Ocean County, New Jersey
Category:Brick Township High School alumni
Category:St. John Vianney High School (New Jersey) alumni