Steps into the leadership role on the defensive line for the Tigers in 2013 … The most-seasoned player on the defensive front for LSU due to the loss of four players from a year ago … Goes into 2013 coming off his best spring, one that saw mature as well as learn how to play as an every down player … Physical player with good speed … Runs at 4.7 40-yard dash despite weighing 295 pounds … Good at pressuring the quarterback or plugging a gap against the run … Has lost 40 pounds since his freshman season when he played at over 330 pounds … For career, has played in 27 games with three starts … Has 42 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks to his credit.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2012)
Played in 13 games, starting three times … Starts came in wins over Idaho, Auburn and Towson … Combined for 13 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss (13 yards) and 1.5 sacks (9 yards) in those three games … Finished third on the team with 10.0 tackles for loss … Had a total of 30 tackles, 3.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries … Added one pass breakup for an LSU defense that ranked among the best in the nation in several categories … Had best game of season in win over Ole Miss with four tackles, including 2.0 totaling 13 yards in losses and a sack for an 11-yard loss … Had three tackles, including a sack for a 6-yard loss, in win over Auburn … Had half-sacks vs. Towson and Florida … Had career-best five tackles in wins over Idaho and Towson … Opened season with three tackles, including one for a loss vs. North Texas … A week later vs. Washington, had three tackles and another tackle for loss in the 41-3 LSU victory.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2011)
Earned freshman All-America honors by CBSSports.com and Sporting News in his first season … Played in all 14 games as a backup at defensive tackle … Made his collegiate debut against Oregon and picked up a tackle, including a half tackle for a loss, on his first play ... Tallied two tackles, both for losses, including his first career sack at Mississippi State ... Credited with 0.5 tackles for a loss against Arkansas.

HIGH SCHOOL
The consensus No. 1 defensive tackle prospect by all major recruiting services in 2010 ... Rated as a five-star prospect by every recruiting service ... The highest rated defensive player in the state of Louisiana ... Selected to the prestigious Parade All-America team ... Awarded the 2010 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year ... Is the first lineman, and only third defender, in the 16 years of handing out the honor to win the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year honor ... Named to the USA Today 2010 All-USA First-Team ... Broke the Louisiana career sack record with 67.5 sacks during his four years at O.P. Walker ... Awarded the Louisiana 4A Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010 ... Four- time all-district selection ... Broke the Louisiana freshman sack record ... Recorded 129 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks as a senior in 2010 ... Rated the No. 2 overall player in the country by ESPN.com ... A member of ESPNU’s Top 150 ... Rated the No. 4 overall player in the country by Scout.com ... A member of Scout.com Hot 100 and Rivals.com Top 100 for 2011 ... A participant in the 2011 Under Armour All-America game ... Listed as a member of the 2011 Under Armour All-American Team and a PrepStar Top 150 All American ... Listed in the Sporting News’ Top 100 ... Named to the New Orleans Times Picayune’s 2011 Blue-Chip List ... Ranked second on the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register Super South East 120 ... Member of the PrepStar All Southeast Region ... Coached by Emmanuel Powell.

PERSONAL
Parents are Nakisha Johnson and Sherman Patty ... Born Jan. 24, 1993 ... Nicknamed “The Freak” ... Sang in the O.P. Walker choir and also sang National Anthem before some of his high school football games … Majoring in general studies … Family was displaced after Hurricane Katrina, moving to Alabama for a period of time … Returned to New Orleans and finished his high school career at O.P. Walker, where he became one of the most sought after high school players in the country.

CAREER HIGHS   
Total tackles: 5, twice (Last: vs. Towson, 2012; First: vs. Idaho, 2012)
Tackles for loss: 2.0, three times (Last: vs. Ole Miss, 2012; First: at Mississippi State, 2011)
Sacks: 1.0, three times (Last: vs. Ole Miss, 2012; First: at Mississippi State, 2011)

JOHNSON'S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATS