BIOGRAPHY
D'Ernest Johnson was born on February 27th, 1996, in Immokalee, Florida. He is a running back in the National Football League.
Johnson attended Immokalee High School and played college football at the University of South Florida.
During high school, Johnson led Immokalee to the Class 5A regional semifinals where they lost 49-34 loss to Plantation-American Heritage. Playing against a loaded Heritage squad that included future NFL players Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie, Johnson delivered a phenomenal performance. He ran for 143 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown and added an electrifying 99-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.
Johnson played for the University of South Florida football team from 2014 to 2017. Johnson saw limited playing time as a true freshman, then earned a bigger role as a sophomore, scoring 5 touchdowns on 653 yards from scrimmage and averaging nearly 27 yards per kickoff return. Johnson earned second-team American Athletic Conference honors as a returner in 2016, averaging 28.9 yards per kickoff return and 11.8 yards per punt return, including one score. He finished as USF's career leader in all-purpose yards (4,186), receptions by a running back (73), and receiving yards by a running back (909). Johnson's return responsibilities decreased in 2018, playing a bigger role in the Bulls' run-oriented offense, as he rushed for a career-high 796 yards and added 9 offensive scores.
Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 16, 2019. Johnson showed off his versatility during the preseason, leading the Browns with 86 rushing yards on 20 carries. He also added seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also proving valuable in the return game. The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder returned six kickoffs for 127 yards and 10 punts for 63 yards.
Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.
