Cornelius Johnson (wide receiver)

Cornelius Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024
No. 83 – Green Bay Packers
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-29) November 29, 2000 (age 24)
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Brunswick (CT)
College:Michigan (2019–2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 7 / pick: 253
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Cornelius Alexius Theodore Johnson (born November 29, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. He was selected by the Chargers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life

Johnson attended Brunswick School, in Greenwich, Connecticut. As a senior, he was selected as the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut.

In 2018, he caught 50 passes for 826 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Bruins (8–2) to the New England Prep School Athletic Council Mike Silipo Bowl Game. Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Johnson ran for a score and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. A two-time All-New England honoree, he concluded his high school football career with 2,167 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns.[1]

Johnson's mother is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School. In December 2018, Johnson announced his commitment to play college football at the University of Michigan.[2]

College career

Johnson versus Ohio State in a 45–23 victory in 2022.

Johnson enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2019. As a freshman, he caught four passes for 61 yards and his first career touchdown, a 39-yard pass thrown by Shea Patterson against Michigan State on November 16.[3]

As a sophomore, in 2020, he appeared in all six games (three as a starter) in Michigan's COVID-shortened season, catching 16 passes for 254 yards, including 82 yards against Indiana, and 105 yards against Rutgers.[4][5][6][7]

In 2021, as a junior, Johnson led Michigan with 39 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns.[8] On September 18, he connected with Cade McNamara for an 87-yard touchdown reception, the third longest catch in Michigan football history. Against Wisconsin on October 2, he had two touchdown receptions.[9]

As a senior, in 2022, Johnson caught 32 passes for 499 yards and 6 touchdowns.[10] On November 26, 2022, against Ohio State, Johnson caught four passes for 160 yards, including receiving touchdowns of 69 and 75 yards, both in the second quarter, helping to lead the Wolverines to a victory over the Buckeyes.[11]

In 2023, Johnson returned for a 5th season and won a national championship with Michigan.[12] He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention, finishing the season with 47 receptions for 604 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 40 yards.[13]

Statistics

College statistics
Season Games Receiving Rushing
GP GS Rec Yards Avg TD Att Yards Avg TD
Michigan Wolverines
2019 12 0 4 61 15.3 1 0 0 0.0 0
2020 6 3 16 254 15.9 3 0 0 0.0 0
2021 14 14 39 620 15.9 3 3 30 10.0 0
2022 14 14 32 499 15.6 6 0 0 0.0 0
2023 15 14 47 604 12.9 1 3 40 13.3 0
Career[14] 61 45 138 2,038 14.8 14 6 70 11.7 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+3⁄4 in
(1.90 m) 		212 lb
(96 kg) 		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m) 		8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		 4.44 s 1.55 s 2.60 s 4.37 s 6.93 s 37.5 in
(0.95 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 13 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[15][16]

Los Angeles Chargers

Johnson was selected in the seventh round, 253rd overall, by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL draft.[17] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad, but released a few days later.[18][19][20]

Green Bay Packers

Johnson signed with the Green Bay Packers practice squad on September 18, 2024.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2025.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Brunswick school student-athlete named Gatorade Connecticut boys football Player of the Year" (PDF). Gatorade.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Jeff (December 19, 2018). "Cornelius Johnson chooses Michigan and warms his mom's maize-and-blue heart". Connecticut Post. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Michigan State at Michigan Box Score, November 16, 2019". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cornelius Johnson College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". Sports Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Cornelius Johnson". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Cornelius Johnson is claiming his place among Michigan". The Detroit News. August 24, 2021.
  7. ^ McMann, Aaron (August 25, 2021). "Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson, improved and eager to win — 'It's non-negotiable'". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "2021 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "No. 14 Michigan routs Wisconsin 38–17; Badgers QB Mertz hurt". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Cornelius Johnson 2022 Game Log". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "Michigan at Ohio State Box Score, November 26, 2022". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Michigan stymies Michael Penix Jr., Washington to win CFP". The New York Times. January 8, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  13. ^ Pustell, Owen (January 27, 2024). "Media impressed with former Michigan football WR Cornelius Johnson at Shrine Bowl practice". Wolverines Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Cornelius Johnson College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Cornelius Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Cornelius Johnson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Zuke, Ryan (April 27, 2024). "NFL draft 2024: WR Cornelius Johnson becomes 13th Michigan player picked, goes to Harbaugh's Chargers". MLive.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. August 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "Chargers Claim Hassan Haskins; Sign 15 Players to Practice Squad". Chargers.com. August 28, 2024.
  20. ^ @Chargers (September 2, 2024). "we've signed CB Shaun Wade and WR Dez Fitzpatrick to our practice squad and released WR Cornelius Johnson and OLB Andrew Farmer II" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Packers sign WR Cornelius Johnson to practice squad". Packers.com. September 18, 2024.
  22. ^ "Packers announce reserve/future signings". Packers.com. January 13, 2025.
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