ZachJohnson

2021 -* Senior

• Elected to return for a fifth year, taking advantage of the NCAA’s ruling to grant an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Kentucky’s primary kickoff returner

2020 – Senior

• Burlsworth Trophy nominee, an award given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Has played in 44 career games, including 10 in 2020
• Missed his first game since 2017 when he didn’t dress vs. South Carolina due to COVID protocol
• Totaled 11 returns for 228 yards, averaging 20.7 yards per return, also had a tackle

2019 – Junior

• Saw action in all 13 games
• Had six kick returns for 164 yards (27.3)
• Had a 58-yard return, the longest of his career, at Georgia
• Also had four tackles
• Got his first career PBU vs. Vanderbilt
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

2018 – Sophomore

• Had eight tackles in 13 games on special teams, most of them highlight-reel worthy
• Earned a full scholarship in the 2018 fall camp
• Dean’s List (Fall 2018)

2017 – r-Freshman

• Saw action in eight games on special teams
• Had two kick returns for 35 yards
   

2016 – Freshman

• Redshirt season

High School

• A two-year starter and three-year letter winner at Colerain for head coach Tom Bolden
• Helped the Cardinals compile a 44-8 overall record and four conference championships in his four seasons, including a 12-2 record as a senior
• Averaged 8.0 yards per carry
• Ran for 142 yards and a TD as a junior
• Named first-team All-Conference as a senior
• Honor-roll student
• Chose UK over Georgetown Univ., Navy and Army

Community Cats

• Volunteered at Athens-Chilesburg Elementary and Rosa Parks Elementary (2020)

Personal

• Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Son of Aubrey Johnson and the late Cindy Johnson
• Siblings are Brittany, Kirt, and Madison
• Got married in March of 2021 to long-time girlfriend, Sydney Fannin
• Graduated in December of 2020 with a degree in health promotion … Currently working on a master’s degree in sport leadership

Zach Says

• He chose Kentucky because it’s been his favorite school since he was young
• After football he would like to pursue a career working in a hospital
• When he played football as a kid he pretended to be Reggie Bush
• His sports hero is Marshawn Lynch because of his work ethic
• Best advice he’s ever received is “remain humble and work for everything you get”