Jermaine Johnson II

Jermaine Curtis Johnson II (born January 7, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Independence and Georgia before transferring to Florida State in 2021 where he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson was drafted by the New York Jets with the twenty-sixth overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

Early years
Johnson grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and attended Eden Prairie High School. As a senior he was named All-Metro after recording 37 tackles and seven sacks. Johnson was academically ineligible to play NCAA Division I football after graduation.

College career
Johnson began his collegiate career at Independence Community College. While at Independence, he was featured in the fourth season of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U where he played under head coach Jason Brown. As a freshman, he had 58 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Johnson transferred to the University of Georgia following the season.

Johnson played in every game for the Georgia Bulldogs as a sophomore, where he had 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks. As a senior, he finished third on the team with four sacks with 16 total tackles and 11 quarterback hurries. Towards the end of the season Johnson entered the transfer portal and enrolled at Florida State for his final season of NCAA eligibility. Johnson had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his first game for the Seminoles, a 41-38 overtime loss to Notre Dame, and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week. He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC after he finished the season with 70 tackles and led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

Professional career
Johnson was selected in the first round with the 26th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL draft. In Week 14, against the Buffalo Bills, he blocked a punt that resulted in a safety. As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and recorded 2.5 sacks and 29 total tackles.