2020 Football Roster
Johnson, C.J.
Jersey Number 5
C.J. Johnson
- Position:
- Outside Receiver
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 236
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Greenville
- High School:
- D.H. Conley HS
- Major:
- Communication
Bio
CAREER NOTES: Four-year letterwinner who started 38 of 46 career games … Two-time All-American Athletic Conference selection (2019, 2022) … Hauled down 175 career passes for 2,849 yards (16.3 ypr) … Scored 21 career touchdowns (4/’19, 6/’20, 1/’21, 10/’22) … Set the ECU single-game receiving yards record against Cincinnati in 2019 (12 for 283 yards) … Tied ECU and AAC single-game record with four touchdown grabs against South Florida (2022) … His 197 yards against the Bulls ranks 10th on the Pirates single-game charts … Stands fifth on ECU’s all-time receiving yards (2,849) and touchdown receptions (21) charts … Ranks sixth all-time in receptions at East Carolina (175) … Owns seven career 100-yard receiving games (4/2019, 3/2022) … Hauled down multiple TD passes in a game three times (TEM ’19, USF ’20, USF ’22) … Recorded at least one reception in 43 of 46 career games (multiple 37 times) ... 106 of 175 receptions went for 10 or more yards (47 for 20-plus) … Targeted 2095 times making 175 grabs … Became the eighth player in program history to post 1,000 or more receiving yards in a season (1,016 in 2022) … Earned Second-Team All-AAC (league coaches and Phil Steele Magazine) honors in 2022 … Selected as a Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), while also earning inclusion on Pro Football Focus’ All-Freshman Team … Additionally, was a two-time All-AAC choice (first-team/Phil Steele, honorable mention/coaches) in 2019 … Two-time Biletnikoff Watch List selection (2020, 2022).
2022: Second-Team All-AAC selection by the leagues head coaches … Also earned second-team all-league honors by Phil Steele Magazine … Set career-highs in receptions (67), receiving yard (1,016) and touchdowns (10) and receptions per game (5.2) … Targeted 88 times making 67 catches … Reached 1,000 yards on the season (first career) against Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on his 12-yard grab in the second quarter becoming the eighth receiver in program history to reach that mark … Tallied three 100-yard receiving games (197/South Florida, 140/UCF, 123/Cincinnati) … His 197 yards against the Bulls stands as the 10th-most receiving yards in a single-game and the most in a game by a player in the AAC in 2022 … Caught at least one pass in all 13 games (multiple 12 times) … Hauled in 11 passes against UCF – most since his 12 receptions against Cincinnati in 2019 … Caught career-best four TD passes against South Florida that tied an ECU and AAC single-game record … Earned AAC Weekly Honor Roll status for his performance versus the Bulls … Finished career ranking fifth on ECU’s all-time receiving yards (2,849) and touchdowns (21) lists … Stands sixth all-time in receptions (175) … Scored a touchdown in seven of 13 contests … Logged 733 total plays from scrimmage (724/offense, 9/special teams) … Stood 13th nationally (FBS) in touchdowns … Ranked among the AAC leaders in receiving yards per game (seventh/78.15), receptions per game (eighth/5.15) and scoring TDs (ninth) … His 24 points against South Florida was tied for the most by an AAC player in a single game in 2022 … Completed one pass for 14 yards to Holton Ahlers, which came in the Birmingham Bowl … Named to Biletnikoff Watch List on Nov. 14 … Earned selection to the 2023 NFLPA Bowl as well as the 2023 NFL Combine … A 2022 Third-Team Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Phil Steele’s Football Preview and a fourth teamer by Athlon Sports.
2021: Started 10 of 12 games during third year with the program … Caught 35 passes for 520 yards (14.9 ypc) with one touchdown … Hauled in multiple passes in 10 of 12 contests … Fifteen of 35 receptions went for 10 or more yards (nine for 20-plus) ... Targeted 64 times making 35 grabs (20 resulting in a first down) ... Caught 2-point conversion (4Q) at Navy tying the game at 35-all with 5:01 remaining ... Lone score of the season came in the second quarter against Charleston Southern on a 60-yard pass from Holton Ahlers … Hauled down a season-best five passes twice (South Florida, Memphis) … Topped the 84-yard mark in receptions yards three times (95/Charleston Southern, 84/South Florida, 89/Navy) … Did not play against UCF or Cincinnati.
2020: During pandemic-shortened season, started all nine games … Caught 19 passes for 405 yards (21.3 ypc) and led the team with six touchdowns … Tied career-long reception with a 75-yarder at South Florida (2Q) for a score (other was Cincinnati in 2019 also resulting in a TD) … Hauled in a season-high four passes against Tulane for 79 yards … Registered three receptions for a season-best 99 yards with two touchdowns at South Florida … Scored touchdowns against UCF (1/37 yards), South Florida (2/75 and 14 yards), Tulsa (1/25 yards), Temple (1/60 yards) and SMU (14 yards/2Q) … Had multiple receptions in six of nine contests … Registered 50 or more receiving yards in a game four times (52/UCF, 99/South Florida, 79/Tulane, 86/Temple) … Named to the 2020 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List ... Also 2020 Second-Team Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
2019: Selected as a Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), while also earning inclusion on Pro Football Focus’ All-Freshman Team … Additionally, was a two-time All-AAC choice (first-team/Phil Steele, honorable mention/coaches) … Played in all 12 contests and made six starts at the “X” slot - William & Mary, Temple, UCF, SMU, Connecticut and Tulsa … Led unit with a freshman school-record 908 receiving yards and stood tied for second with 54 catches and four touchdown grabs … Averaged 16.8 yards per reception, which led all starters … Caught at least one pass in 11 of 12 outings and produced multiple receptions on nine occasions … Also eclipsed triple-digit yardage totals four times … Established an ECU and AAC single-game standard with 283 receiving yards (on a season-high 12 catches) against Cincinnati at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Yardage total vs. Bearcats also marked a single-game high on the FBS level during the ’19 campaign, nine ahead of Alabama’s Devonta Smith (274 vs. Ole Miss) … All 12 grabs against UC were 10-plus yards … Other century mark performances were against Tulsa (6-141), UCF (8-106) and Temple (8-100) … Logged TD receptions vs. Temple (14 & 10 yards), Cincinnati (season-long 75) and Tulsa (35) … Also turned in notable efforts in contests vs. William & Mary (5-46), USF (5-85), and Connecticut (4-85) … Caught first career pass (7 yards) in collegiate debut at NC State … Had 17 receptions of 20-plus yards and 38 that exceeded 10 or more yards … Was targeted on 92 occasions and produced 39 first downs … Netted 45 catches for 817 yards (18.2 ypr) and all four TDs in eight AAC matchups (9-91 in four non-league tilts) … Topped Pirates in receptions (37) and yardage (668) in six home games … Racked up 700 (of 908) of his reception yards on 35 catches during the second half of the campaign (final six contests) … Other noticeable split came in day (19-339) vs. night (team-best 35-569) game performances … Top months of production include October (21-291, 2 TD) and November (22-509, 2 TD) … Only contest without a reception came at SMU (left game early in first quarter after suffering an injury) … Played prominent role in the Pirates’ No. 22 national rank in passing yards per game (288.8) … On special teams, had one kickoff return (2 yards at Old Dominion) … Was also credited with one tackle (following an interception at Connecticut).
High School: Played key role guiding the Vikings to a 39-13 four-year record, which included a 22-2 conference mark … A two-time Associated Press All-State selection (2017, 2018) who earned four letters as a two-way player for coach Nate Conner at D.H. Conley High School … Caught 239 passes for 5,198 yards (108.3 ypg) with 79 touchdowns during entirety of prep career … Additionally, rushed 50 times for 713 yards (14.3 ypc) with 17 TDs … In all, scored 98 touchdowns (79 receiving, 17 rushing, one fumble return, one interception return) and four two-point conversions for 592 points (12.3 ppg) in 48 career games … On the defensive side of the ball, credited with 47 tackles (42 solo) and a pair of interceptions … Appeared in 10 games as a freshman and caught six passes for 195 yards with four TDs, while rushing for 193 yards on 11 carries with three scores … Top rookie effort of note in 2015 was a two-catch, 86-yard outing vs. rival J.H. Rose in a playoff matchup … Followed with an impressive sophomore campaign, grabbing a personal-best 88 passes for a career-high 1,755 yards (146.3 ypg) with 21 scores in 12 games … His touchdown catches ranked among the top eight single-season totals in North Carolina history, while his yardage was among the best 10 ever … Hauled in 68 passes for 1,547 yards (119.0 ypg) and 31 TDs as a junior and added another 110 yards on kickoff returns in 13 contests … The 31 scores stood as the second-highest single-season total in state history … Earned Second-Team All-USA N.C. honors from USA Today and was a First-Team 3A N.C. Preps All-State selection … Helped Vikings to an Eastern Carolina 3A/4A Conference title (6-0 record) and a third-round appearance in the state playoffs … Caught passes from current ECU QB Holton Ahlers as a freshman, sophomore and junior (156-3,302 yards, 52 TDs) … Closed prep career by tallying 2,267 all-purpose yards (174.4 ypg) … Caught 77 passes for 1,701 yards (130.8 ypg) with 23 TDs in 13 games during the 2018 season … Rushed for 520 yards on 39 carries with 14 TDs and returned one punt for 12 yards and picked off two passes for 34 yards as a senior … Also completed seven-of-12 passes for 42 yards with two TDs … Was the Vikings primary punter, kicking 40 balls for 1,525 yards (38.1 ypp) while landing 12 inside the 20-yard line … Served as a senior team captain … Also played basketball at D.H. Conley and earned three letters … Considered a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Listed as the 49th-best prospect in N.C. by 247Sports.com and 53rd by ESPN.com … Officially committed to ECU May 17, 2018 … Also received offers from Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest … Initiated football career in earnest as a quarterback at the middle school level.
Personal: A communication major at East Carolina … Lists former Pirate wide receivers Dwayne Harris and Justin Hardy as favorite players growing up.
2022: Second-Team All-AAC selection by the leagues head coaches … Also earned second-team all-league honors by Phil Steele Magazine … Set career-highs in receptions (67), receiving yard (1,016) and touchdowns (10) and receptions per game (5.2) … Targeted 88 times making 67 catches … Reached 1,000 yards on the season (first career) against Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on his 12-yard grab in the second quarter becoming the eighth receiver in program history to reach that mark … Tallied three 100-yard receiving games (197/South Florida, 140/UCF, 123/Cincinnati) … His 197 yards against the Bulls stands as the 10th-most receiving yards in a single-game and the most in a game by a player in the AAC in 2022 … Caught at least one pass in all 13 games (multiple 12 times) … Hauled in 11 passes against UCF – most since his 12 receptions against Cincinnati in 2019 … Caught career-best four TD passes against South Florida that tied an ECU and AAC single-game record … Earned AAC Weekly Honor Roll status for his performance versus the Bulls … Finished career ranking fifth on ECU’s all-time receiving yards (2,849) and touchdowns (21) lists … Stands sixth all-time in receptions (175) … Scored a touchdown in seven of 13 contests … Logged 733 total plays from scrimmage (724/offense, 9/special teams) … Stood 13th nationally (FBS) in touchdowns … Ranked among the AAC leaders in receiving yards per game (seventh/78.15), receptions per game (eighth/5.15) and scoring TDs (ninth) … His 24 points against South Florida was tied for the most by an AAC player in a single game in 2022 … Completed one pass for 14 yards to Holton Ahlers, which came in the Birmingham Bowl … Named to Biletnikoff Watch List on Nov. 14 … Earned selection to the 2023 NFLPA Bowl as well as the 2023 NFL Combine … A 2022 Third-Team Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Phil Steele’s Football Preview and a fourth teamer by Athlon Sports.
2021: Started 10 of 12 games during third year with the program … Caught 35 passes for 520 yards (14.9 ypc) with one touchdown … Hauled in multiple passes in 10 of 12 contests … Fifteen of 35 receptions went for 10 or more yards (nine for 20-plus) ... Targeted 64 times making 35 grabs (20 resulting in a first down) ... Caught 2-point conversion (4Q) at Navy tying the game at 35-all with 5:01 remaining ... Lone score of the season came in the second quarter against Charleston Southern on a 60-yard pass from Holton Ahlers … Hauled down a season-best five passes twice (South Florida, Memphis) … Topped the 84-yard mark in receptions yards three times (95/Charleston Southern, 84/South Florida, 89/Navy) … Did not play against UCF or Cincinnati.
2020: During pandemic-shortened season, started all nine games … Caught 19 passes for 405 yards (21.3 ypc) and led the team with six touchdowns … Tied career-long reception with a 75-yarder at South Florida (2Q) for a score (other was Cincinnati in 2019 also resulting in a TD) … Hauled in a season-high four passes against Tulane for 79 yards … Registered three receptions for a season-best 99 yards with two touchdowns at South Florida … Scored touchdowns against UCF (1/37 yards), South Florida (2/75 and 14 yards), Tulsa (1/25 yards), Temple (1/60 yards) and SMU (14 yards/2Q) … Had multiple receptions in six of nine contests … Registered 50 or more receiving yards in a game four times (52/UCF, 99/South Florida, 79/Tulane, 86/Temple) … Named to the 2020 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List ... Also 2020 Second-Team Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
2019: Selected as a Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), while also earning inclusion on Pro Football Focus’ All-Freshman Team … Additionally, was a two-time All-AAC choice (first-team/Phil Steele, honorable mention/coaches) … Played in all 12 contests and made six starts at the “X” slot - William & Mary, Temple, UCF, SMU, Connecticut and Tulsa … Led unit with a freshman school-record 908 receiving yards and stood tied for second with 54 catches and four touchdown grabs … Averaged 16.8 yards per reception, which led all starters … Caught at least one pass in 11 of 12 outings and produced multiple receptions on nine occasions … Also eclipsed triple-digit yardage totals four times … Established an ECU and AAC single-game standard with 283 receiving yards (on a season-high 12 catches) against Cincinnati at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Yardage total vs. Bearcats also marked a single-game high on the FBS level during the ’19 campaign, nine ahead of Alabama’s Devonta Smith (274 vs. Ole Miss) … All 12 grabs against UC were 10-plus yards … Other century mark performances were against Tulsa (6-141), UCF (8-106) and Temple (8-100) … Logged TD receptions vs. Temple (14 & 10 yards), Cincinnati (season-long 75) and Tulsa (35) … Also turned in notable efforts in contests vs. William & Mary (5-46), USF (5-85), and Connecticut (4-85) … Caught first career pass (7 yards) in collegiate debut at NC State … Had 17 receptions of 20-plus yards and 38 that exceeded 10 or more yards … Was targeted on 92 occasions and produced 39 first downs … Netted 45 catches for 817 yards (18.2 ypr) and all four TDs in eight AAC matchups (9-91 in four non-league tilts) … Topped Pirates in receptions (37) and yardage (668) in six home games … Racked up 700 (of 908) of his reception yards on 35 catches during the second half of the campaign (final six contests) … Other noticeable split came in day (19-339) vs. night (team-best 35-569) game performances … Top months of production include October (21-291, 2 TD) and November (22-509, 2 TD) … Only contest without a reception came at SMU (left game early in first quarter after suffering an injury) … Played prominent role in the Pirates’ No. 22 national rank in passing yards per game (288.8) … On special teams, had one kickoff return (2 yards at Old Dominion) … Was also credited with one tackle (following an interception at Connecticut).
High School: Played key role guiding the Vikings to a 39-13 four-year record, which included a 22-2 conference mark … A two-time Associated Press All-State selection (2017, 2018) who earned four letters as a two-way player for coach Nate Conner at D.H. Conley High School … Caught 239 passes for 5,198 yards (108.3 ypg) with 79 touchdowns during entirety of prep career … Additionally, rushed 50 times for 713 yards (14.3 ypc) with 17 TDs … In all, scored 98 touchdowns (79 receiving, 17 rushing, one fumble return, one interception return) and four two-point conversions for 592 points (12.3 ppg) in 48 career games … On the defensive side of the ball, credited with 47 tackles (42 solo) and a pair of interceptions … Appeared in 10 games as a freshman and caught six passes for 195 yards with four TDs, while rushing for 193 yards on 11 carries with three scores … Top rookie effort of note in 2015 was a two-catch, 86-yard outing vs. rival J.H. Rose in a playoff matchup … Followed with an impressive sophomore campaign, grabbing a personal-best 88 passes for a career-high 1,755 yards (146.3 ypg) with 21 scores in 12 games … His touchdown catches ranked among the top eight single-season totals in North Carolina history, while his yardage was among the best 10 ever … Hauled in 68 passes for 1,547 yards (119.0 ypg) and 31 TDs as a junior and added another 110 yards on kickoff returns in 13 contests … The 31 scores stood as the second-highest single-season total in state history … Earned Second-Team All-USA N.C. honors from USA Today and was a First-Team 3A N.C. Preps All-State selection … Helped Vikings to an Eastern Carolina 3A/4A Conference title (6-0 record) and a third-round appearance in the state playoffs … Caught passes from current ECU QB Holton Ahlers as a freshman, sophomore and junior (156-3,302 yards, 52 TDs) … Closed prep career by tallying 2,267 all-purpose yards (174.4 ypg) … Caught 77 passes for 1,701 yards (130.8 ypg) with 23 TDs in 13 games during the 2018 season … Rushed for 520 yards on 39 carries with 14 TDs and returned one punt for 12 yards and picked off two passes for 34 yards as a senior … Also completed seven-of-12 passes for 42 yards with two TDs … Was the Vikings primary punter, kicking 40 balls for 1,525 yards (38.1 ypp) while landing 12 inside the 20-yard line … Served as a senior team captain … Also played basketball at D.H. Conley and earned three letters … Considered a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Listed as the 49th-best prospect in N.C. by 247Sports.com and 53rd by ESPN.com … Officially committed to ECU May 17, 2018 … Also received offers from Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest … Initiated football career in earnest as a quarterback at the middle school level.
Personal: A communication major at East Carolina … Lists former Pirate wide receivers Dwayne Harris and Justin Hardy as favorite players growing up.
East Carolina Postgame Interviews (Sept. 25, 2025)
Friday, September 26
ECU Football Coach Blake Harrell Presser Army
Monday, September 22
ECU Post-Game Interviews (Sept. 20, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
09/16/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 16
