One of the most touted defensive recruits in the 2008 class, Johnson had six tackles, including two for loss, during his one half of action this season, but a knee injury has left him sidelined since. He was still holding out hope for a late return, but similar to tight end Mike Ragone and running back Armando Allen in 2006, Johnson’s prep career came to a premature close (Lincoln lost its state quarterfinal game with West Salem, 28-21, on Nov. 24). He’s expected to be healthy by the time he arrives on campus.
Johnson, who posted 83 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior, committed to the Irish during his summer-camp visit in late June. The Army All-American chose Notre Dame over the likes of USC, Michigan and Oregon, among many others. He carries a 3.27 GPA.
