CALVIN JOHNSON CAREER AND LIFE
Calvin Johnson, Jr. (born September 29, 1985), nicknamed Megatron, is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Georgia Tech, and was recognized as an All-American twice. He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. On March 14, 2012, Johnson signed an eight-year, $132 million contract extension with the Lions, one of thelargest sports contracts ever.[1] Johnson has a rare combination of size, hands, speed, strength, leaping ability,[2][3] body control and hand-eye coordination. His nickname "Megatron" was given to him by former Lions wide receiver Roy Williams and the name caught on with fans. On December 22, 2012, Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single season record for receiving yards, which had previously been 1,848.[4] In that same Saturday night game versus theAtlanta Falcons, Johnson also set the NFL records for consecutive 100-yard games (8) and consecutive games with 10+ receptions (4). He also tied Hall of Famer Michael Irvin's record for most 100 yard games in a season with 11.[5]
Johnson was born to Calvin Sr. and Arica Johnson on September 29, 1985 in Newnan, Georgia.[3][6] Johnson was 6 feet tall in middle school, and 6 feet 4 inches in 10th grade.[7] He attended Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he was a three-year starter as a wide receiver. As a sophomore, he made 34 receptions for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior, Johnson caught 40 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns.[3][8] His number, 81, was retired on October 22, 2010.[9]
Johnson was rated among the nation's top 10 wide receivers and top 100 players by virtually every recruiting analyst. He was tabbed the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 15 player in the nation by TheInsiders.com, named to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Rivals 100 by Rivals.com, TheInsiders.com Hot 100, the SuperPrep All-America 275 and the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team.[3]
He was also rated the No. 1 player in Georgia, No. 12 in the Southeast and No. 37 in the nation by Rivals.com, the No. 7 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep. First-team all-state selection (Class AAAA) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Finally, he was tabbed to the AJC's preseason Super 11.[3] By the time he was a junior, he was ranked as within the top 10 wide receivers and the top 100 players in the nation by almost every writer.[3]
Johnson was born to Calvin Sr. and Arica Johnson on September 29, 1985 in Newnan, Georgia.[3][6] Johnson was 6 feet tall in middle school, and 6 feet 4 inches in 10th grade.[7] He attended Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he was a three-year starter as a wide receiver. As a sophomore, he made 34 receptions for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior, Johnson caught 40 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns.[3][8] His number, 81, was retired on October 22, 2010.[9]
Johnson was rated among the nation's top 10 wide receivers and top 100 players by virtually every recruiting analyst. He was tabbed the No. 4 wide receiver and No. 15 player in the nation by TheInsiders.com, named to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Rivals 100 by Rivals.com, TheInsiders.com Hot 100, the SuperPrep All-America 275 and the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team.[3]
He was also rated the No. 1 player in Georgia, No. 12 in the Southeast and No. 37 in the nation by Rivals.com, the No. 7 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep. First-team all-state selection (Class AAAA) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Finally, he was tabbed to the AJC's preseason Super 11.[3] By the time he was a junior, he was ranked as within the top 10 wide receivers and the top 100 players in the nation by almost every writer.[3]
COLLEGE CAREER
Johnson attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played for coach Chan Gailey's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team from 2004 to 2006. He is considered one of Georgia Tech's most highly publicized signees in recent years. In his career at Georgia Tech wearing number 21, Johnson made a case for being the greatest Georgia Tech receiver of all time. Johnson had 178 receptions in his career, good for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ranks first in school history in career receiving yards, second in receptions, first in touchdown receptions, and first in career 100 yard receiving games with 13.[10]
As a freshman in 2004, Johnson was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. Johnson was the Jackets' leading receiver with 48 catches for 837 yards and seven scores, which were Georgia Tech freshman records. Johnson ended his freshman campaign against Syracuse University in the Champs Sports Bowl, where he recorded a touchdown. 2005 was Johnson's sophomore year, where he earned first-team All-American honors. He also earned All-ACC honors for the second straight year and was semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. He led Tech with 54 catches for 888 yards and six scores.
Calvin Johnson catching a passJohnson entered his 2006 junior season in the running for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy. Although Johnson finished tenth in the Heisman voting, he won the Biletnikoff as the best college wide receiver. Johnson was honored as the ACC Player of the Year, was a first-team All-ACC selection for the third consecutive year, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. Johnson tallied 1,202 yards on 76 catches. Johnson's 15 touchdowns in 2006 was a new Georgia Tech single-season record.[11] Against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Toyota Gator Bowl, Johnson had nine catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, albeit in a losing effort.[12][13]
[edit]College record
[edit]Professional career Calvin Johnson in his Detroit Lions training uniform[edit]2007 NFL DraftMain article: 2007 NFL DraftComing out of college, Calvin Johnson was hyped to be one of the best wide receivers of all time. Calvin Johnson was SI.com's Midseason NFL Draft Projection #1 pick,[21] though Johnson had stated that he intended to earn his degree from Georgia Tech.[3] On January 8, 2007, Johnson declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft, bypassing his senior season at Georgia Tech.[10][22] He was regarded as the best athlete to come out of the draft and was the #1 player on most draft boards.[2][23][24] Johnson was said by ESPN to be able to be productive as a rookie, much like receiver Randy Moss was as a rookie.[2] In a mid-February workout with speed and conditioning coach Mark Pearsall, Johnson clocked a 4.33 second 40-yard dash, recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump, and had a vertical leap of 43 inches.[25]
Johnson surprised many when he weighed in at 236 pounds at the combine, 12 pounds more than expected, although he claims that this season he played "at about 235 and I got up to 238" and that his weight was not a problem.[2] Johnson had told the media that he would not run the 40 yard dash at the combine but would wait until his March 15 workout at Georgia Tech.[26] Johnson ran a 4.35 and wowed scouts with his jump drill results, his receiving skills, and his 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) broad jump, which is "best broad jump I can ever remember an NFL prospect having," according to Gil Brandt.[27]
Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.[28][29][30] This is the highest a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has ever been drafted.[28] The Lions were expected to trade Johnson, most likely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team announced that they were keeping him.[31] The next day the Detroit Tigers invited him to throw out the first pitch.[32][33]
As a freshman in 2004, Johnson was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. Johnson was the Jackets' leading receiver with 48 catches for 837 yards and seven scores, which were Georgia Tech freshman records. Johnson ended his freshman campaign against Syracuse University in the Champs Sports Bowl, where he recorded a touchdown. 2005 was Johnson's sophomore year, where he earned first-team All-American honors. He also earned All-ACC honors for the second straight year and was semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. He led Tech with 54 catches for 888 yards and six scores.
Calvin Johnson catching a passJohnson entered his 2006 junior season in the running for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy. Although Johnson finished tenth in the Heisman voting, he won the Biletnikoff as the best college wide receiver. Johnson was honored as the ACC Player of the Year, was a first-team All-ACC selection for the third consecutive year, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. Johnson tallied 1,202 yards on 76 catches. Johnson's 15 touchdowns in 2006 was a new Georgia Tech single-season record.[11] Against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Toyota Gator Bowl, Johnson had nine catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, albeit in a losing effort.[12][13]
[edit]College record
- Georgia Tech career receiving yards - 2,927
- First-team Freshman All-American 2004[14]
- All-American 2005 and 2006[14]
- First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, 2004, 2005 and 2006[3]
- ACC Rookie of the Year, 2004[3]
- ACC Player of the Year, 2006[3]
- Four-time ACC Rookie of the Week[14]
- Best Wide Receiver in the nation by IGN.com, via NCAA Football 07[15]
- Biletnikoff Award, 2006[3]
- Paul Warfield Trophy, 2006
- 10th 2006 Heisman Vote - 43 total votes (76 Rec, 1202 Yds, 15.8 Avg, 15 TD)[16]
[edit]Professional career Calvin Johnson in his Detroit Lions training uniform[edit]2007 NFL DraftMain article: 2007 NFL DraftComing out of college, Calvin Johnson was hyped to be one of the best wide receivers of all time. Calvin Johnson was SI.com's Midseason NFL Draft Projection #1 pick,[21] though Johnson had stated that he intended to earn his degree from Georgia Tech.[3] On January 8, 2007, Johnson declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft, bypassing his senior season at Georgia Tech.[10][22] He was regarded as the best athlete to come out of the draft and was the #1 player on most draft boards.[2][23][24] Johnson was said by ESPN to be able to be productive as a rookie, much like receiver Randy Moss was as a rookie.[2] In a mid-February workout with speed and conditioning coach Mark Pearsall, Johnson clocked a 4.33 second 40-yard dash, recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump, and had a vertical leap of 43 inches.[25]
Johnson surprised many when he weighed in at 236 pounds at the combine, 12 pounds more than expected, although he claims that this season he played "at about 235 and I got up to 238" and that his weight was not a problem.[2] Johnson had told the media that he would not run the 40 yard dash at the combine but would wait until his March 15 workout at Georgia Tech.[26] Johnson ran a 4.35 and wowed scouts with his jump drill results, his receiving skills, and his 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) broad jump, which is "best broad jump I can ever remember an NFL prospect having," according to Gil Brandt.[27]
Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.[28][29][30] This is the highest a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has ever been drafted.[28] The Lions were expected to trade Johnson, most likely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team announced that they were keeping him.[31] The next day the Detroit Tigers invited him to throw out the first pitch.[32][33]