Player profile
About D'Ernest Johnson
D'Ernest Johnson Jr. (born February 27, 1996) is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Florida. Early years Johnson attended and played high school football at Immokalee High School. He helped lead the team to the Class 5A regional semifinals where they lost 49–34 to Plantation-American Heritage. Johnson ran for 143 yards, a touchdown, and a 99-yard kickoff return in a game against American Heritage School that included Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie. College career Johnson played four years (2014–2017) at South Florida, where he rushed 421 times for 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns. 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). He also excelled at returning kicks. Johnson spent three of his four years behind Marlon Mack. Johnson saw limited playing time as a true freshman, then earned a bigger role as a sophomore, scoring five 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. 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 nine offensive scores.
