2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

43 - ISAIAH JOHNSON
Safety
Georgia Tech
Tyrone, Ga. Ht: 6-1 Wt: 206
Year: Rookie Born: 5/16/92
Draft: FA-Det ‘15
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent
on May 7, 2015.
COLLEGE
Four-year impact player on defense for Georgia Tech, finishing his
collegiate career with 51 games played, 275 total tackles (175 solo),
three sacks, four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and six
interceptions (93 yards).
2014: Returned from injury as a redshirt senior and saw action in
13 games (12 starts) and earned the team’s Defensive Effort Award.
Totaled 72 tackles, ranking fourth on the team, including 51 solo
stops and three tackles for loss.
‣ ¾ Led defense with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and
forced and recovered a fumble at Georgia.
‣ ¾ Recorded one interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble
recoveries and had a team-high five pass defenses in Tech’s
49-34 Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State on New Year’s Eve.
‣ ¾ Had three solo tackles vs. Florida State in the ACC Championship
Game.
2013: Redshirted due to a season-ending injury.
2012: Led the team in tackles as a junior with 87 (53 solo) and one
sack. Started the first 13 games of the season before suffering an
injury that sidelined him for the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Also finished
the season with one sack and one interception that was returned
for a touchdown.
‣ ¾ Picked off his fifth career pass and returned it 22 yards for his
second career pick-six.
2011: Started all 13 games at safety and tied for the team lead
in interceptions with three (10th in ACC). Ended the season with
78 tackles (48 solo), three tackles for loss, one sack, two forced
fumbles and three pass defenses.
‣ ¾ Had an interception, fumble recovery and four tackles in the
second week of the season at Middle Tennessee State.
‣ ¾ Registered an interception to go with seven tackles in key home
win vs. North Carolina.
‣ ¾ Matched a career high with nine tackles and had one sack
vs. Utah.
2010: Led all Georgia Tech freshmen with 46 total tackles (28
solo) and concluded his first season of college football with one
sack, two fumble recoveries, one interception, one forced fumble
and one pass defense.
‣ ¾ In his first career game vs. South Carolina State, forced a fumble
and made four tackles.
‣ ¾ Grabbed his first career interception and returned it 18 yards vs.
Middle Tennessee State.
PERSONAL
Earned all-state, all-region and all-county honors as a safety in
2009 at Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School. Led his school to a state
championship in 2009 and broke the school records for single-season
and career interceptions.
‣ ¾ Member of the academic honor roll at Sandy Creek.
‣ ¾ Graduated from Georgia Tech with a master’s degree in building
construction.
‣ ¾ Son of Nathan and Dominica. Has three siblings, Aaron Smith,
Tyler Smith and Sierra Johnson.
83 - VERNON JOHNSON
Wide Receiver Texas A&M Commerce
Fort Worth, Texas Ht: 6-0 Wt: 192
Year: Rookie Born: 4/17/92
Draft: FA-Det ‘15
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent
on May 7, 2015.
COLLEGE
Spent two seasons at Southwestern Junior College before
transferring to Texas A&M Commerce in 2013. Finished his career at
Commerce with 147 receptions for 2,608 yards and 25 touchdowns,
averaging 113.4 yards per game in 23 career games.
2014: Ended his college career with a career-high 77 receptions and
finished with 1,258 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Recorded 100
or more yards in seven games, including five-consecutive in contests
against Tarleton State (102), Angelo State (113), West Texas A&M
(102), Midwestern State (180) and McMurry (118).
‣ ¾ Racked up a career-high 191 yards on only four catches and two
touchdowns in the season finale against East Central.
2013: In his first season at Commerce, took the offense by storm
and finished with 70 receptions for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns
(122.7 yards per game). Named the Lone Star Conference Wide
Receiver of the Year and was a first team all-conference selection
at wide receiver and kick returner.
‣ ¾ Set the Commerce single-season records in receptions (70) and
receiving touchdowns (13).
‣ ¾ Had 100-yard receiving games in nine of the 12 games on the
year, going for at least 129 yards in each of those games.
‣ ¾ Set the Commerce single-game record with 201 kickoff return
yards in the win over McMurry.
2011-12: Played two seasons at Southwestern Junior College,
concluding his junior college career with 48 receptions for 1,100
yards and 15 touchdowns.
PERSONAL
Was a three-year letterman at Brewer (Texas) High School and
totaled 68 catches for nearly 1,000 yards as a senior under head
coach Paul Sharr. Also lettered in track and field and basketball.
‣ ¾ Son of Ratisapea Nailon.
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