Antonio Johnson
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Career Summary
Antonio Johnson was an NFL defensive tackle who played for Indianapolis and Tennessee after Mississippi State.
Johnson played six NFL seasons and appeared in 83 games for the Colts and Titans. He played college football at Mississippi State before Tennessee selected him in the 2007 NFL Draft.
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Early Life
Johnson was born in Greenville, Mississippi.
Antonio Rico Johnson was born December 8, 1984, in Greenville, Mississippi.
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High School
He attended Leland High School in Mississippi.
Johnson attended Leland High School, where he played football for two years and also participated in baseball and basketball.
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College Career
Johnson was a two-year letterman at Mississippi State after playing junior college football.
At Mississippi State, Johnson played in 23 games and made five starts, recording 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. As a senior, he recorded career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and fumble recoveries.
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Path to the NFL
Tennessee selected Johnson in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
The Titans selected Johnson with the 156th overall choice in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. After a knee injury placed him on injured reserve as a rookie, Indianapolis signed him from Tennessee's practice squad in November 2008.
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NFL Career
Johnson totaled 143 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 83 NFL games.
NFL career statistics credit Johnson with 143 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks and three passes defended. He played for Indianapolis from 2008 through 2012 and Tennessee in 2013.
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Career Accomplishments
Johnson became a regular starter on Indianapolis's defensive line.
After joining Indianapolis in 2008, Johnson started the final four regular-season games and added four tackles in the Wild Card playoff game. He then started 15 games in 2009 and 13 games in 2012.
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Playing Style
Johnson added size and run-defense strength to the Colts' interior line.
Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Johnson provided strength and was developing into a player who could make plays. Indianapolis also identified its larger defensive tackles, including Johnson, as part of an effort to improve against the run.
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Legacy
Johnson's route from injury and the practice squad to an NFL starting role defined his professional story.
After spending his rookie year injured and the following season on Tennessee's practice squad, Johnson quickly made an impact following his 2008 arrival in Indianapolis. He recorded 12 tackles in his first two Colts games.
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Sources for this section
21830, 00-0025539, 1984-12-08, Antonio Johnson, Antonio, Johnson
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