May 8, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson has signed a National Football League free-agent contract with the New York Giants.

Johnson earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior when he led the team with 105 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. He had a career-high 16 tackles vs. Tennessee and was SEC Defensive Player of the Week when he had 14 stops in UK’s upset win at Auburn.

Johnson showed his toughness by playing much of his senior season with a sprained knee, which he re-sprained in his final collegiate game in the Music City Bowl.

Johnson was first-team All-SEC as a junior, when he notched 93 tackles, despite missing two and one-half games because of injury. He had a team-high 13 tackles for loss. For his career, he totaled 285 tackles, including 23.5 for loss, and two interceptions.

Johnson was a member of the first senior class in school history to play in four-consecutive bowl games, three of which were Wildcat wins.

Eight draftees and free agents this year give UK a total of 25 players who have signed NFL contracts from the 2007, ’08 and ’09 senior classes.