| Dillon Johnson | |
| Current Team: | Carolina Panthers |
| Number: | 28 |
| Position: | Running back |
| Birth Date: | 15 June 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Greenville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 217 |
| College: | Mississippi State (2020–2022) Washington (2023) |
| Undraftedyear: | 2024 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: |
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| Pfr: | J/JohnDi02 |
Dillon Alexander Johnson-Norris (born June 15, 2001) is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State and Washington.
Johnson was born in Greenville, Mississippi, where he attended St. Joseph High School. In his high school career, Johnson would throw for 957 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also rushing for 4,287 yards and 54 touchdowns. On defense, Johnson made 389 tackles, ten forced fumbles, and nine interceptions. As a punter, Johnson would have a career average of 48.5 yards per punt.[1] Johnson was rated as a four star athlete when coming out of high school.[2] Johnson eventually decided to play college football at Mississippi State University.[3] [4]
During Johnson's first season in 2020 (which was shortened due to COVID-19), he rushed 51 times for 225 yards and four touchdowns, while also making 36 receptions for 157 yards.[5] In the 2021 season, Johnson would rush for 485 yards and four touchdowns on 89 carries, while also notching 65 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown.[6] In the 2022 season, Johnson would rush for 488 yards and three touchdowns on 89 carries, while also hauling in 48 receptions for 285 yards.[7] After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Johnson would decide to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal.[8] [9]
Johnson finished his career at Mississippi State with 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns on 229 carries, while also bringing in 149 receptions for 864 yards and one touchdown.[10]
See also: 2023 Washington Huskies football team. Johnson would decide to transfer to the University of Washington to play out the rest of his college career.[11] [12] In week five of the 2023 season, Johnson rushed for a career high 91 yards and two touchdowns, while also making five catches for 48 yards, in a 31-24 win over Arizona.[13] In week seven, Johnson would rush 20 times for 100 yards and a touchdown, as he helped the Huskies to a win beating Oregon.[14] Johnson ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the final PAC-12 Championship game as Washington defeated Oregon. Johnson had two rushing touchdowns and 49 yards against Texas in the Sugar Bowl before leaving the game with an ankle injury.[15] In the National Championship against Michigan, Johnson led the Huskies with 33 rushing yards on 11 carries.[16]
| Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | |||||
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 11 | 1 | 51 | 225 | 4.4 | 4 | 36 | 157 | 4.4 | 0 | ||||
| 2021 | 13 | 7 | 89 | 485 | 5.4 | 4 | 65 | 422 | 6.5 | 1 | ||||
| 2022 | 11 | 6 | 89 | 488 | 5.5 | 3 | 48 | 285 | 5.9 | 0 | ||||
| Washington Huskies | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 14 | 14 | 233 | 1,195 | 5.1 | 16 | 24 | 190 | 7.9 | 0 | ||||
| Career | 49 | 28 | 462 | 2,393 | 5.2 | 27 | 173 | 1,054 | 6.1 | 1 | ||||
On April 27, 2024, Johnson signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent after he was not selected in the 2024 NFL draft.[17] [18] He was waived on July 25.[19]
On July 31, 2024, Johnson was signed by the Carolina Panthers.[20]
Johnson has one son, Dillon Johnson Jr., who was born on August 2, 2022.[21] [22]