DavidJohnson

One of the nation?s top 10 true freshmen by Sports Illustrated (1998)

Freshman All-America (first team) by The Sporting News (1998)

Freshman All-America (honorable mention) by Football News (1998)

Freshman All-SEC by the Knoxville News-Sentinel (1998)

Expected to be a leader of the Kentucky defense ? UK?s most experienced defensive player ? Well-suited for the demands of his position, which is a combination of strong safety and outside linebacker ? Has demonstrated a knack for being around the football throughout his career, totaling four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, four fumbles caused, and nine pass breakups as a Wildcat ? Good fundamental tackler … Would like to avoid the injuries that hampered him last season … Has played in 30 games, starting 23.

2001: Started all seven games he played, missing four contests because of injury ? Totaled 44 tackles, including five for loss ? Collected interceptions in back-to-back games at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt ? Also had a season-high nine tackles in the win over the Commodores.

2000 (Sophomore): Played every game, including six starts at strong safety ? Fourth on the team in tackles with 44, including a career-high 13 stops against Indiana ? Had three tackles for loss ? Second on the team in pass breakups with four, including two in the Vanderbilt game ? Made an excellent recovery from the eye injury sustained in the previous season.1999 (Sophomore): Played and started one game, the season opener vs. Louisville ? Sustained a broken orbital bone (eye socket) on the second play of the game, requiring season-ending surgery ? Received a medical hardship because of the injury, retaining the year of eligibility.

1998 (Freshman): First-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News and Freshman All-SEC by the Knoxville News-Sentinel … Picked as one of the nation?s top 10 true freshmen in the Oct. 3 issue of Sports Illustrated … Played in all 11 regular-season games, starting nine … Missed two starting assignments and played only briefly against Louisiana State and Georgia because of a sprained toe … Finished fourth on the team in tackles with 53, including two for loss (-4) … His season was highlighted by a number of big plays, four of which had a direct bearing on Wildcats victories … Picked up a fumble on the first possession against Eastern Kentucky and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown … Knocked loose a fumble against Indiana, recovered by UK, that set up a touchdown in the Wildcats? comeback victory over the Hoosiers … Broke up a fourth-down pass on the goal line against South Carolina … Stormed in on a blitz and sacked the quarterback on fourth down against Mississippi State … Had interceptions against Tennessee and Arkansas, including a pickoff of the Razorbacks? Clint Stoerner that ended a school-record string of 137 passes without an interception … Caused two fumbles and had four pass breakups … Had a season-high 11 tackles in the Outback Bowl.

High School: Three-year starter as a defensive back at Princess Anne HS in Virginia Beach, Va. … Also a two-year starter at tailback … As a senior, led team in tackles with more than 100 stops … Led the Tidewater area in interceptions with seven and returned three for touchdowns … Offensively, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and tallied 11 touchdowns … Caught 15 passes for more than 200 yards … Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns … Chosen second-team All-Eastern Region (eastern half of the state) … Earned all-district and All-Tidewater area honors … Second team all-district as a junior … Won team?s Most Valuable Player Award his last two years … Named Princess Anne HS Male Athlete of the Year … Coached by Jeff Ballance … Played on the varsity as a freshman at Middleton HS in Charleston, S. C. … Three-year letterman in track, competing in the 4×200-meter relay, the long jump, and the triple jump … Won the indoor track team?s Outstanding Senior Award … Athletic ability highlighted by his 39-inch vertical jump, best in his district at a high school football combine … Member of the DECA Club and the DARE program … Chose UK over Michigan State and Georgia Tech.

Personal: Full name is Harold David Johnson … Born 2/3/80 in Charleston, S.C. … Son of Harold and Willamae Johnson … Major is kinesiology.

The Cats Cause: Celebrity waiter at the Leukemia Luncheon (2001).

Johnson Career StatisticsYear  Position       G-GS Tackles TFL-Yds. Sacks-Yds. PBU Int.-Yds FC FR1998  Strong Safety  11-9   53      3-9         1-5    4    2-51   2  11999  Strong Safety   1-1    1        0           0    0       0    1  02000  Strong Safety  11-6   44      3-5           0    4       0    1  02001  Outside Safety  7-7   44     5-18       0.5-4    1    2-29   0  1Totals              30-23  142    11-32       1.5-9    9    4-80   4  2

Johnson Game-by-Game Statistics1998Opponent Tackles PBU Int.Louisville 6 1 0Eastern Kentucky 6 0 0Indiana 7 1 0Florida 7 0 0Arkansas 6 0 1South Carolina 3 1 0Louisiana State 1 0 0Georgia 0 0 0Mississippi State 5 0 0Vanderbilt 4 1 0Tennessee 8 0 1Totals 53 4 2Penn State 11 0 0 (Outback Bowl)

2000Opponent Tackles PBU Int.Louisville 4 0 0South Florida 7 0 0Indiana 13 1 0Florida 5 0 0Ole Miss 5 0 0South Carolina 1 0 0Louisiana State 1 0 0Georgia 2 0 0Mississippi State 2 1 0Vanderbilt 3 2 0Tennessee 1 0 0Totals 44 4 0

2001Opponent Tackles PBU Int.Louisville 5 0 0Ball State INJFlorida 5 0 0Mississippi 7 1 0South Carolina INJLouisiana State INJGeorgia INJMississippi State 4 0 1Vanderbilt 9 0 1Tennessee 7 0 0Indiana 7 0 0Totals 44 1 2