C.J. Johnson

Position:
Wide Receiver
Height:
6-2
Weight:
222
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Greenville
High School:
D.H. Conley HS
Major:
Communication

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.