Calvin Johnson (American football)

Infobox NFLactive
name=Calvin Johnson


caption=Calvin Johnson with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Photo by [http://jmhphoto.net/ Jamie Howell]
currentteam=Detroit Lions
currentnumber=81
currentposition=Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|9|25
birthplace=Tyrone, Georgia
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=239
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Detroit Lions
college=Georgia Tech
draftyear=2007
draftround=1
draftpick=2
pastteams=
* Detroit Lions (2007-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* College awards and honors
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=48
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=756
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=4
nfl=JOH088640

Calvin Johnson (born September 25, 1985 in Tyrone, Georgia) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Johnson has a rare combination of size (6 ft. 5 in., 239 lb/ 196 cm, 108 kg), speed (4.35 sec 40-yard dash), strength, leaping ability (more than 45" (114 cm) vertical jump),cite news
first=John|last=Clayton|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2779980
work=ESPN.com|title=NFL/DRAFT07 - Clayton: Johnson impresses at combine|date=2007-02-26|accessdate=2007-02-27] cite web|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_calvin00.html|work=RamblinWreck.com|title=Calvin Johnson's Georgia Tech profile|accessdate=2007-02-18] body control and hand-eye coordination. It is often mentioned that he is also a very humble and well-behaved person, [cite news|first=Kyle|last=Thomason|url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-29/sports/4|title=Talented freshmen earn playing time, contribute|work=The Technique|date=2004-10-29|accessdate=2007-05-17] who did well academically at Georgia Tech. [cite news|first=Adam|last=Van Brimmer|url=http://www.savannahnow.com/node/272415|title=Calvin Johnson taints image, not character|work=Savannah Morning News|publisher=SavannahNow.com|date=2007-04-25|accessdate=2008-09-09]

Early years

Johnson was born to Calvin and Arica Johnson on September 25, 1985 in Tyrone, Georgia. Johnson was 6 feet tall in middle school, and 6 feet 4 inches in 10th grade. [cite news|first=Ray|last=Glier|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2006-08-28-gatech-johnson_x.htm|title=Georgia Tech's star receiver just can't miss|work=USA Today|date=2006-08-28|accessdate=2007-09-17] He attended Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he was a three year starter as a wide receiver. As a sophomore, he made 34 receptions for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior, Johnson caught 40 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns.cite news|url=http://dev.nique.gatech.edu/issues/2004-10-01/sports/7|title=Freshman Faces in the Crowd|work=The Technique|date=2004-09-24|accessdate=2007-05-17]

One of Georgia Tech's most highly publicized signees in recent years, Johnson was rated among the nation's top 10 wide receivers and top 100 players by virtually every recruiting analyst. He was tabbed the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 15 player in the nation by TheInsiders.com, named to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Rivals 100 by Rivals.com, TheInsiders.com Hot 100, the SuperPrep All-America 275 and the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team.

He was also rated the No. 1 player in Georgia, No. 12 in the Southeast and No. 37 in the nation by Rivals.com, the No. 7 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep. First-team all-state selection (Class AAAA) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Finally, he was tabbed to the AJC's preseason Super 11. By the time he was a junior, he was ranked as within the top 10 wide receivers and the top 100 players in the nation by almost every writer.

College career

In his career at Georgia Tech, Johnson made a case for being the greatest Georgia Tech receiver of all time. Johnson has 178 receptions in his career, good for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ranks first in school history in career receiving yards, second in receptions, first in touchdown receptions, and first in most career 100-yard receiving games with 13.

As a freshman in 2004, Johnson was named first-team All-ACC. Johnson was the Jackets' leading receiver with 48 catches for 837 yards and seven scores, which were Georgia Tech freshman records. Johnson ended his freshman campaign against Syracuse University in the Champs Sports Bowl, where he recorded a touchdown. 2005 was Johnson's sophomore year, where he earned first-team All-American honors. He also earned All-ACC honors for the 2nd straight year and was semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. He led Tech with 54 catches for 888 yards and six scores.

Johnson entered his junior season in the Biletnikoff Award running and Heisman Trophy running. Although Johnson finished 10th for the Heisman, he won the Biletnikoff. Johnson was ACC Player of the Year and made his 3rd straight selection to All-ACC squad. Johnson tallied 1,202 yards on 76 catches. Johnson's 15 touchdowns in 2006 is a new Georgia Tech single-season record. [cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/2006/Internet/conf%20stats/2006000000821PD.HTML|work=NCAASports.com|title=ACC Leaders|accessdate=2007-02-18] Against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Toyota Gator Bowl, Johnson had nine catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. [cite news|first=Chuck|last=Finder|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06364/750097-144.stm|title=Gator Bowl: Georgia Tech receiver is tops|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=2006-12-30|accessdate=2007-08-10] [cite news|first=Mel|last=Kiper|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/bowls?game=gator|title=West Virginia vs. Georgia Tech: ESPN's Take|work=ESPN|publisher=go.com|date=2007-01-01|accessdate=2007-08-10]

College awards and honors

* First-Team Freshman All-American 2004
* All-American 2005 (AFCA, 1st team; AP, 2nd team; Walter Camp, 2nd team) and 2006 (AFCA, 1st team; Walter Camp, 1st team)
* First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, 2004, 2005 and 2006
* ACC Rookie of the Year, 2004
* ACC Player of the Year, 2006
* Four-time ACC Rookie of the Week
* Best Wide Receiver in the nation by IGN.com, via NCAA Football 07 [cite news|url=http://sports.ign.com/articles/711/711712p1.html|work=IGN|title=NCAA Football 07: Top 25 Wide Receivers|date=2006-06-09|accessdate=2007-02-18]
*Biletnikoff Award, 2006

Academic activities

During the 2006 summer, Johnson, who majored in management with a background in building construction, was given the option of working on either constructing environmentally friendly luxury condos, or a project building solar latrines to improve sanitation in Bolivia. [cite news|first=Usha|last=Kantheti|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2006-09-22/focus/1|title=Playing locally, serving globally|work=The Technique|date=2006-09-22|accessdate=2007-02-18] [cite news|url=http://www.whistle.gatech.edu/archives/06/sep/05/solar_latrines.shtml|title=Students work to improve sanitation in developing countries|work=The Whistle|publisher=Georgia Tech Institute Communications and Public Affairs|date=2006-08-05|accessdate=2008-05-31] Johnson chose the latter, as he wanted to help the less fortunate.cite pressrelease|url=http://www.gatech.edu/news-room/release.php?id=1115|publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology|title=Calvin Johnson Tackles Global Sanitation Problems|date=2006-09-01|accessdate=2007-02-18] The "solar latrines" use the sun’s rays to safely transform bacteria-laden waste into fertilizer. [cite web|url=http://www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/ESWB/ATDT.html|title=Appropriate Technology Design Team|publisher=Georgia Tech Cyberbuzz|accessdate=2008-05-31]

Professional career

2007 NFL Draft

Coming out of college, Calvin Johnson was hyped to be one of the best college wide receivers of all time. Calvin Johnson was SI.com's Midseason NFL Draft Projection #1 pick, [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0610/gallery.nfl.midseason.draft.proj/content.1.html|work=Sports Illustrated|title=NFL Midseason Draft Projection: #1, Calvin Johnson|accessdate=2007-02-18] though Johnson had stated that he intended to earn his degree from Georgia Tech. On January 8, 2007, Johnson declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft, bypassing his senior season at Georgia Tech.cite news|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010807aab.html|work=RamblinWreck.com|title=Johnson to Enter NFL Draft|date=2007-01-08|accessdate=2007-02-18] cite news|first=Asif|last=Heerji|title=Johnson chooses NFL|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2007-01-19/sports/1|work=The Technique|date=2007-01-19|accessdate=2007-02-18] He is regarded as the best athlete to come out of the draft and was the #1 player on most draft boards. [cite web|url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/melkiper/index.html|title=Mel Kiper's Big Board|work=Espn.com|accessdate=2007-02-18] [cite web|first=Chris|last=Horwedel|url=http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/top100prospects.htm|title=Top 200 Prospects|publisher=NFL Draft Blitz|date=2007-03-13|accessdate=2007-03-19] Johnson is said by ESPN to be able to be productive as a rookie, much like receiver Randy Moss was as a rookie. In a mid-February workout with speed and conditioning coach Tom Shaw, Johnson clocked a remarkable 4.33 second 40-yard dash, 10.23 second 100-meter sprint, recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump, and had a vertical leap of 43 inches. [cite news|first=Rick|last=Stroud|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/14/Bucs/Georgia_Tech_s_Johnso.shtml|work=St. Petersburg Times|title=Georgia Tech's Johnson seen as a can't-miss WR|date=2007-02-14|accessdate=2007-02-18]

Johnson surprised many when he weighed in at 239 pounds at the combine, 12 pounds more than expected, although he claims that this season he played "at about 235 and I got up to 238" and that his weight was not a problem. Johnson had told the media that he would not run the 40 yard dash at the combine but would wait until his March 15 workout at Georgia Tech. At the last minute, however, he was thought to have borrowed a pair of shoes from East Carolina QB James Pinkney and clocked an impressive 4.35 in the 40 yard dash. He later insisted that he had not borrowed the shoes, but simply reclaimed his own. Pinkney arrived in tennis shoes, and Johnson informed him he needed cleats and lent him his own. When he later returned to retrieve his shoes to run, many thought he was borrowing Pinkney's cleats. [cite news|first=Paul|last=Newberry|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-confidentjohnson&prov=ap&type=lgns|title=Calvin Johnson believes he's the best player in the NFL draft|work=Yahoo! Sports|publisher=Associated Press|date=2007-02-28|accessdate=2007-03-08] Johnson ultimately allowed the 4.35 to speak for itself and wowed scouts with his jump drill results, his receiving skills, and his 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) broad jump, which is "best broad jump I can ever remember an NFL prospect having," according to Gil Brandt. [cite web|first=Gil|last=Brandt|authorlink=Gil Brandt|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/analysis/individual_workouts#GAtech|title=Individual Workouts|publisher=NFL.com|accessdate=2007-03-21]

Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.cite news|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042807aaa.html|title=Johnson Goes to Detroit with No. 2 Pick|work=RamblinWreck.com|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|date=2007-04-28|accessdate=2007-04-29] [cite news|first=Mike|last=Householder|url=http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Detail?contentId=3059197&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=6.1.1|title=Lions Go On Offense With WR Johnson, QB Stanton|work=Fox 2 News Detroit|date=2007-04-29|accessdate=2007-04-29] [cite news|first=Nicholas|last=Cotsonika|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070429/SPORTS01/704290631/1049|title=Lions' catch is definite keeper|work=freep.com|publisher=Detroit Free Press|date=2007-04-29|accessdate=2007-04-29] This is the highest a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has ever been drafted. The Lions were expected to trade Johnson, most likely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team announced that they were keeping him. [cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0704/Draft_Surprises_Top10/content.4.html|title=Top 10 Draft Surprises: The Lions don't trade Calvin Johnson|work=Sports Illustrated|date=2007-04-29|accessdate=2007-04-30] The next day the Detroit Tigers invited him to throw out the first pitch. [cite web|url=http://images.nfl.com/video/homepage/2006/0429-3.ram|title=Lions' draft pick wide receiver Calvin Johnson on team cam|work=NFL.com|date=2007-04-29|accessdate=2007-04-30] [cite news|first=Tom|last=Kowalski|url=http://blog.mlive.com/lionsinsider/2007/04/calvin_johnson_to_throw_first.html|title=Calvin Johnson to throw first pitch at Tigers game|work=Lions Insider|date=2007-04-29|accessdate=2007-05-05]

("* represents NFL Combine")

Detroit Lions

Johnson attended Reebok's NFL Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2874954|title=ESPN - Dungy concerned about rookies missing minicamp - NFL|publisher=sports.espn.go.com|accessdate=2008-08-28|last=Pasquarelli|first=Len] The Lions, being told by the league that Johnson would have to skip the minicamp to attend, rescheduled the camp to accommodate Johnson. [cite news|first=Michael David|last=Smith|url=http://www.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/20/lions-move-minicamp-so-calvin-johnson-can-participate/|title=Lions Move Minicamp So Calvin Johnson Can Participate|work=The Fanhouse|publisher=AOL Sports|date=2007-05-20|accessdate=2007-05-21] On August 3, 2007, Calvin Johnson signed a 6-year deal with the Detroit Lions after holding out for eight days, and passed his physical in time to be on the field for the start of that morning's practice.cite news|first=Nicholas|last=Cotsonika|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070803/BLOG21/70803021/0/BUSINESS01|title=Lions sign WR Calvin Johnson|publisher=Detroit Free Press|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-08-03] [cite news|url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/nflnews.asp?articleID=2074|title=Lions sign WR Calvin Johnson|publisher=seattlepi.com|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-08-03] [cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/DET/10279736|title=Lions sign No. 2 pick WR Johnson|publisher=NFL.com|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-08-03] cite news|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=458576|title=Lions Sign First-Round Draft Pick WR Calvin Johnson|publisher=Detroit Lions|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-08-25] The contract is worth up to $64 million, with $27.2 million in guaranteed money, making Johnson the highest-paid player in Lions history and the highest-paid receiver (in guaranteed money) in the NFL. [cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10276236|title=High draft choices already outearning top vets|publisher=NFL.com|date=2007-07-31|accessdate=2007-08-03]

Although he did not start the game, Johnson had an impressive NFL debut on Sunday, September 9, 2007, catching 4 passes for 70 yards and his first career touchdown in Detroit's 36-21 win over the Oakland Raiders. [cite news|first=Steve|last=Hummer|url=http://www.ajc.com/wireless/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/09/09/johnson_0910.html|title=Johnson takes it all in stride in Lions debut|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=2007-09-10|accessdate=2007-09-11] [cite news|first=Brian|last=VanOchten|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2007/09/williams_saves_td_ball_for_joh.html|title=Williams saves TD ball for Johnson|work=The Grand Rapids Press|publisher=MLive.com|date=2007-09-09|accessdate=2007-09-11] [cite news|first=Nicholas J|last=Cotsonika|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070909/SPORTS01/709090597|title=Lion Calvin Johnson focuses on the game, rookie of the year, not the hype|work=Detroit Free Press|publisher=freep.com|date=2007-09-09|accessdate=2007-09-11] He sustained a lower back injury after making an impressive catch over two Philadelphia Eagles defenders on September 23, 2007. [cite news|author=Associated Press|url=http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/sports-25/1190675347149820.xml&storylist=newsmichigan|title=Lions check themselves after blowout loss in Philadelphia|publisher=mlive.com|date=2007-09-24|accessdate=2007-09-24] He scored his first NFL rushing touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2007 on an impressive 32-yard reverse play. [cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=REG7&game_id=29286|title=Quick Take: Lions capitalize on Bucs' errors|work=NFL Game Center|publisher=nfl.com|date=2007-10-21|accessdate=2007-10-21] Fellow teammate Roy Williams nicknamed Johnson "Megatron", due to his large hands being similar to that of the towering Decepticon. [cite news|first=Larry|last=Large|url=http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/sports-25/1193051645113350.xml&storylist=newsmichigan|title=Calvin Johnson shows why Lions made him No. 2 pick in the draft|publisher=mlive.com|date=2007-10-22|accessdate=2007-10-23] Williams later changed the name to "Bolt" after Jamaican sprinting phenom Usain Bolt, comparing the two athletes' similar height and running abilities. [cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/08/lions_williams_not_jealous_of.html|title=Lions' Williams not jealous of Calvin Johnson|date=2008-08-21|accessdate=2008-09-03] Johnson finished the 2007 season with 756 yards and 5 total touchdowns.

Johnson says he can "still feel" the lower-back injury that bothered him throughout his rookie season. Johnson took five weeks off after the season and is taking part in the Lions' offseason program. "I know it's there but it doesn't hurt," he said. [cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/04/lions_johnson_back_injury_ling.html|title=Lions' Johnson: Back injury lingered all season|publisher=mlive.com|date=2008-04-20|accessdate=2008-05-31] Johnson revealed that he needed Vicodin to play through the final three months of the 2007 season. He needed the medication to help him play with a bone bruise in his back. "I was on meds the rest of the season," he said. "I was taking Vicodin twice a game just to get through the game. I stayed hurt the whole season, probably because I was trying to come back too soon." [cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1208664303217070.xml&coll=6
title=Calvin Johnson ready for big numbers|publisher=mlive.com|date=2008-04-20|accessdate=2008-05-31] Johnson averaged 15.8 yards on 48 catches in the 2007 season. [cite news|url=http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/072508/spo_sports03.shtml|title=Johnson will be the Lions' next great player|work=Daily Tribune|date=2008-07-25|accessdate=2008-08-12]

2008 Season

Johnson and the Lions faced the Atlanta Falcons on the road on September 7 to begin the season. As the official starting wide receiver behind Roy Williams, Johnson had a good performance leading the team in receptions and yards, collecting 7 catches for 107 yards which included one impressive 38-yard catch-and-run in the Lions' 34-21 loss.Fact|date=September 2008 Johnson had another impressive game during week 2 versus the Green Bay Packers where he had two key touchdowns late in the game which sparked a large comeback late in the game, though the Lions eventually lost the game, 48-25. Both touchdowns catches included an impressive run after the catch (the first catch going for 38 yards and the second going for 47 yards, both over the middle) displaying Johnson's coveted speed and breakaway ability. He ended the game with 6 receptions for 129 and 2 touchdowns.Fact|date=September 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=444&season=10 Detroit Lions bio]
* [http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_calvin00.html Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bio]

Persondata
NAME = Johnson, Calvin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = American football wide receiver
DATE OF BIRTH = September 25, 1985
PLACE OF BIRTH = Tyrone, Georgia
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =