Kerryon Johnson

BIOGRAPHY

Kerryon Johnson was born on June 30, 1997, in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a running back in the NFL.

Johnson attended Academy in Madison, Alabama, as a senior he rushed 1,659 yards with 25 touchdowns. Johnson decided to attend Auburn after High School.

As a freshman at Auburn in 2015, Johnson was a backup to future NFL starter Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson. In 2016, he recorded 895 rushing yards on 182 carries and 11 touchdowns. As a junior in 2017, Johnson became the top running option and rushed for over 100 yards in ten of the team's twelve regular season contests. On the season, he recorded 1,391 yards, on 285 carries for 18 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns, leading the SEC in all four categories. He ended his career at Auburn with 2,494 career rushing yards (11th in school history), 32 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth).

He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the sixth running back to be selected that year. The Detroit Sports Media association awarded Johnson its 2019 Lions-DSM Rookie of the Year Award. Johnson made his NFL debut in the season opener against the New York Jets and had five carries for 17 yards and three receptions for 20 yards. In a Week 3 matchup, Johnson rushed for 101 yards, becoming the first Lions' player since Reggie Bush in 2013 to rush for more than 100 yards. The performance won him the starting role over LeGarrette Blount, which he used to score his first NFL touchdown the following week against the Dallas Cowboys. He was second-youngest Lions' player to reach 150 yards rushing by just three days to Barry Sanders, and the first Lions' player of any age since Jahvid Best in 2011.

On September 14, 2021, Johnson was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.