Austin Johnson

Early life

Johnson was born in Galloway Township, New Jersey to parents Austin and Tammy Johnson, the third of four children – he has two older sisters and one younger sister. Johnson attended St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, New Jersey with plans to play basketball in hopes of someday playing in college. He played basketball and earned all-state accolades as a senior. However, the football coach convinced Johnson to try out for the football team, and he did. Subsequently, Johnson was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who convinced him not only to commit to Penn State, but to keep his commitment after crippling sanctions were announced in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, as well as the arrival of new coach Bill O'Brien.

College career

"An unheralded prep player from New Jersey who spent as much time on the basketball court as the football field," Johnson redshirted his freshman season, but entered training camp in 2013 eager to make an impact on the defensive line, establishing himself as a candidate to start opposite DaQuan Jones, Penn State's star defensive tackle that season. Mentored by Larry Johnson, Jones, and Jordan Hill, Austin Johnson proved himself early in the season, and earned a spot in the rotation at defensive tackle with Jones and Kyle Baublitz. At the end of the 2013 season, Johnson was named a member of the freshman all-conference teams by both ESPN.com, and the Big Ten Network.

Entering his redshirt sophomore season firmly established on the defensive line along with converted defensive end Anthony Zettel, Johnson sought to "lead by example". Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop asserted that he was a consummate Penn State defensive tackle, drawing comparisons to Jones and Jack Crawford, among others. The Patriot News columnist Bob Flounders rated Johnson among the most important components to Penn State's team entering the 2014 season. Early in the season, he did not compile many defensive statistics, but Penn State coach James Franklin commented, "[Johnson is] probably the most athletic 315-pound guy I've been around. The thing I like the most about him is every time I see him when he walks in the building or he's out at practice, he's got a huge smile on his face," going onto note that Johnson had the ability to "wreck" an opponent's game. Four games into Penn State's season, they had the best rush defense in the country, which Franklin attributed largely to the efforts of Johnson.

Johnson majored in business administration at Penn State.

Personal life

Johnson is married to former Legends Football League football league player Danika Brace.