(Editor's Note: As part of the preparation for training camp, this series will introduce 25 players who are new to the Cowboys' roster, rookies and veterans alike. We continue with Jason Johnson.)
How He Got Here: Originally from a southern suburb of Chicago, Johnson began his collegiate football career at Eastern Illinois where he was a two-time FCS All-American and a tackling machine during his three seasons with the Panthers. He then hit the transfer portal as one of the hotter commodities from the FCS ranks and landed with UCF where he played two seasons. Those two years saw him total 240 tackles including 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. His presence as a commanding MIKE linebacker gave him some draft buzz, but the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder instead went undrafted where the Cowboys were able to rein in his services.
What's Next: There's no question that there was a huge absence of healthy bodies at the linebacker position for the large majority of the season after Leighton Vander Esch went down with injury, and the Cowboys' front office used quite a bit of resources to fill out the depth of that position group this offseason. That includes Johnson, while he may be looking behind other new additions such as Eric Kendricks and Marist Liufau, he will have an opportunity in the preseason to show that he can be relied upon on special teams and as a reliable run-fit linebacker that can come in if an injury arises to the group in front of hin.
Did You Know: Johnson's career mark of 8.73 tackles per game ranked fifth among all active NCAA players at the time of his graduation from UCF. His tackling production awarded him a second-team All-Big 12 honor in 2023 for the Knights.
Quotable: "How hard I worked, how hard I went on the field and that I gave my all on the field for every game." - Jason Johnson in his final collegiate press conference about how he wants UCF fans to remember him
