The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
12.06.2021 | Football
Johnson was a two-time consensus All-American at Texas, and an All-Pro performer in the NFL.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football great Johnnie Johnson will receive the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award during the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet tonight at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Johnson, played at The University of Texas from 1976-79 and was a two-time consensus All-American during his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of the FWAA's 1978 and '79 All-America Teams, from which the Legends Award recipient is chosen.
A native of LaGrange, Texas, Johnson played on three Texas teams that ranked among the Top 10 teams nationally in total defense and had 13 career interceptions. He also was a punt return specialist for Texas, with 1,004 career return yards. Named to the Southwest Conference All-Decade Team, Johnson was a 1979 UT co-captain during his senior season.
Selected in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft as the 17th pick by the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson played safety and cornerback for 11 seasons in the National Football League, mostly with the Los Angeles Rams. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. His son Collin, a wide receiver, also played at Texas and is now with the New York Giants.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, annually awarded to the top defensive player in college football, is announced by the Charlotte Touchdown Club (CTC) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) at the same event.
The FWAA and CTC have presented a Nagurski Legends Award since the 2007 season. Previous recipients include such standouts as Notre Dame's Alan Page, Michigan State's Bubba Smith, Miami, Fla's Ted Hendricks, Florida's Jack Youngblood, Maryland's Randy White, Ohio State's Tom Cousineau and UCLA's Jerry Robinson.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
