OVERVIEW
The Tyler Junior College transfer showed flashes of brilliance as a junior at Arizona in 2005,
forcing his way into the starting lineup for the final four games. He continued to dominate in the
early stages of his senior year, but early October leg injuries prevented him from practicing for
close to a month before a hamstring pull would sideline him for the last two games of his final
campaign.
The Pflugerville High School product was an All-District XIV and Class 5A All-State defensive
back that earned a four-star rating from Rivals.com. He enrolled at Tyler junior College in 2002,
spending that season as a redshirt. He started every game the following year at strong safety. In
2004, Johnson lined up at cornerback and safety, guiding the team to an 8-4 record, as he
recorded 68 tackles (51 solos) with six sacks and one interception. He earned National Junior
College Athletics Association first-team All-American honors, in addition to garnering All-
Southwest Junior College Football Conference first-team and Defensive Most Valuable Player
accolades.
Johnson arrived at the University of Arizona during the spring of 2005 with a foot sprain that
would sideline him most of preseason camp. He saw action in all eleven games, performing as a
nickel back and strong safety during the first seven contests, before wrestling the starting strong
safety job away from Lamon Means for the final four games. He ranked second on the team with
60 tackles (40 solos), including 4.5 stops for minus 14 yards. He recovered one fumble, deflected
four passes and intercepted four others for 45 yards in returns with a touchdown.
Johnson was a second-team All-Pac 10 Conference choice in 2006. He started the first ten
games at strong safety before being sidelined for the final two contests with a hamstring injury.
Johnson finished the season with 47 tackles (35 solos) and a stop for a 7-yard loss. He caused
and recovered a fumble, intercepted one pass and deflected four others. In 21 games at Arizona,
Michael started fourteen times. He collected 107 tackles (75 solos) with 5.5 stops for minus 21
yards. He caused one fumble and recovered two others. He also deflected eight passes and
intercepted five others for 45 yards in returns with a score.

CAREER NOTES
In 21 games at Arizona, Johnson registered 72 plays vs. the run and 64 vs. the pass…He allowed
only twelve receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown…Michael posted 26 third-down stops (11
vs. the run, 15 vs. the pass) and eight fourth-down tackles…He made sixteen of his tackles inside
the red zone.

2006 SEASON
Super Sleeper Team selection and rated the second-best strong safety in the West by The NFL
Draft Report…Earned All-Pac 10 Conference second-team honors…Started the team’s first ten
games…Managed to rank fifth on the team with 47 tackles (35 solos), including one stop for a 7-
yard loss…Caused and recovered one fumble…Deflected four passes and intercepted
another…The defensive co-captain made 27 plays vs. the run and 27 more in pass
coverage…He delivered thirteen third-down stops (including seven vs. the run) and one more on
fourth-down action…Posted six of his tackles inside the red zone, including three on goal-line
plays…Allowed only five receptions for 50 yards in ten games…Led a vastly improved defense
that allowed only 326.25 yards per game after the Wildcats gave up 408.82 yards per game in
2005…Credited with two tackles on special teams.

2006 GAME ANALYSIS
Brigham Young…Johnson opened the season with nine tackles (8 solos), a pass break-up and a
pressure, as four of his hits came on third-down plays and another on fourth-down…On the
game’s first play from scrimmage, he recovered a fumble by tight end Jon Harline at the BYU
33…He took down Curtis Brown on a third-&-2 run that netted only one yard on the Cougar’s next
drive, forcing BYU to punt…The Cougars’ next drive was side-tracked when Michael pressed
Harline at the line of scrimmage, preventing the tight end from getting to a screen pass thrown by
QB John Beck…Harline was again rerouted by Johnson in an attempt to get to a Beck sideline
throw early in the second quarter…He then sniffed out a screen, taking down Manase Tonga for
no gain on a catch at the BYU 46 midway through the second quarter…In the third quarter,
Johnson stopped Curtis Brown after a 3-yard gain on a third-&-4 run and then killed that drive
when his pressure led to a bad snap on fourth-&-1, ending an 11-play, 68-yard series with no
points by BYU…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#13-Jonny Harline-One catch for 5 yards
(also stopped Harline from catching two other throws).
Louisiana State…The Wildcats safety delivered six tackles (2 solos) with one third-down stop and
a pass deflection, adding one more tackle on the punt coverage unit in the first quarter, when he
stopped Chevis Jackson on a 10-yard runback…His pass break-up stopped Dwayne Bowe from
getting to a second-&-9 seam pass thrown by JaMarcus Russell at the start of the second
half…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#82-Richard Dickson-No catches.
Stephen F. Austin…Michael collected five solo tackles, with three coming on third-down
plays…He chased down Louie Runnels on a 25-yard catch at the start of the second quarter and
later in that drive, he stopped QB Danny Southall on a 21-yard QB option… Johnson killed a third
quarter drive when he tackled Aaron Shea on a third-&-9 reception that netted only 6
yards…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-SB#80-Tyrell Williams-One catch for 5 yards.
Southern California…Johnson followed with six solo tackles on defense, including one third-down
hit and added another stop on special teams…He came out of his area to stop Chris McFoy after
a 22-yard catch, taking the receiver down at the UA 12 to prevent a possible touchdown…Midway
through the fourth quarter, he jammed tight end Fred Davis at the line, preventing the Trojan from
getting to a J.D. Booty pass…With 2:55 left in the game, Johnson tackled Desmond Reed on an
8-yard punt return, but USC was penalized ten yards for a clip on Michael, pushing the ball back
to the USC 26… Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#83-Fred Davis-One catch for 7 yards.
Washington…Johnson was not expected to play due to a leg injury, but the team co-captain
insisted on seeing action, starting, as he registered seven tackles (6 solos), including three thirddown
hits, a stop for a 7-yard loss, a forced fumble, an interception and a pass break-up while not
allowing any receptions by his coverage assignment…With five minutes left in the first quarter,
Johnson stepped in front of an Isaiah Stanback pass for an interception at the UA 10…He chased
down Anthony Russo after the receiver gained 17 yards on a third-&-24 throw, forcing the
Huskies to punt at the start of the second quarter…He made a potential touchdown-saving tackle
when he caught up and dragged down Sonny Shackelford on a 50-yard catch-&-run with 9:46 left
in the first half…At the start of the third quarter, Johnson stripped the ball from Stanback on a
third-&-7 run at the UA 47, but Washington recovered it when the pigskin rolled out of
bounds…Stanback tried to take off on another bootleg from the UW 27, but Johnson alertly burst
into the backfield to level the quarterback for a 7-yard loss midway through the third
quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#37-John Kirton-No catches.
UCLA…After missing the entire week of practice due to a leg injury, Johnson started vs. the
Bruins and delivered three tackles (2 solos)…He held tight end Logan Paulsen to only one catch
for 18 yards late in the first quarter and stopped Chris Markey on a 3-yard run early in the fourth
quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#86-Logan Paulsen-One catch for 18 yards.
Stanford…Johnson registered another three tackles, including one that leveled Toby Gerhart after
a 3-yard catch in the second quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#83-Jim Dray-One
catch for 18 yards.
Oregon State…Michael had his third consecutive game with three tackles (2 solos)…He chased
down tailback Yvenson Bernard on a 15-yard run in the first quarter and stopped Ruben Jackson
on an 11-yard scamper during OSU’s next drive…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#89-Joe
Newton-No catches.
Washington State…Johnson was credited with three solo tackles and a deflected pass on a first-
&-goal toss from Alex Brink, knocking the ball out of Charles Dillon’s hands in the end zone to
prevent a touchdown…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#80-Cody Boyd-One catch for 4
yards.
California…Johnson had two tackles before leaving the game in the second quarter with a
hamstring pull…Before he left, he stopped tailback Marshawn Lynch on back-to-back runs that
netted one yard each late in the first quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#82-Craig
Stevens-No catches.

2005 SEASON
Johnson missed spring drills due to a foot sprain, but showed flashes of brilliance during the
season as a reserve safety and handling nickel back chores…The coaching staff, impressed with
his performances, inserted Michael at strong safety, replacing Lamon Means for the final four
contests…Johnson appeared in every game, ranking second on the team with 60 tackles (40
solos)…He had 4.5 stops for minus 14 yards and one fumble recovery…He deflected four passes
and led the team while ranking 28th nationally and third in the Pac-10 Conference with four
interceptions for 45 yards in returns, including one touchdown…Made 45 plays vs. the run and 37
vs. the pass…Registered thirteen third-down tackles (four vs. the pass, nine vs. the run) and
seven fourth-down hits…Added ten tackles inside the red zone, including three on goal-line
plays…Allowed only six catches for 101 yards and was penalized once.

2005 GAME ANALYSIS
Utah…Johnson began his Arizona career with two tackles, including one that stopped Justin
Walker for a 1-yard loss on a second-&-8 run and then jammed Fan Tagovailoa at the line of
scrimmage, preventing the receiver from getting to a third-&-9 throw from QB Brian Johnson in
the third quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#18-Chad Jacobson-No catches.
Northern Arizona…Johnson’s sole tackle came on special teams, as he stopped Anthony
Brandon on a 23-yard return on the game’s opening kickoff.
Purdue…Johnson came off the bench to make five tackles (3 solos), including one on a thirddown
play, and added two more tackles on the punt coverage unit…He rerouted Charles Davis
on the game’s opening drive, preventing the tight end from catching a third-&-12 toss from QB
Brandon Kirsch and forcing Purdue to punt…He then tackled Brian Hare on a 3-yard punt return
at the start of the second half and stopped Lance Melvin for no gain on a fourth quarter punt
return…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#87-Charles Davis-No catches.
California…Michael was in on four tackles (3 solos), including three inside the red zone on
defense and added one more hit on special teams… Johnson also leveled Tim Mixon on a 9-yard
punt return at the start of the second quarter…He made two goal-line plays, stopping tailback
Justin Forsett on a first-&-goal run up the middle that netted 3 yards and on a second-&-goal play
over right guard that gained one yard…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#82-Craig Stevens-
One catch for 20 yards.
Southern California…Johnson produced nine tackles (8 solos) with a stop for a 3-yard loss, a
pass deflection and a fumble recovery while preventing USC receivers from getting to three
thrown passes…He jammed tight end Dominique Byrd at the line of scrimmage on a screen pass
from Matt Leinart early in the first quarter…With one minutes left in the opening stanza, Michael
recovered a fumble by Desmond Reed on a rushing attempt at the UA 44, killing a 51-yard, 11-
play drive to set up Wildcats QB Richard Kovalcheck’s 4-yard scoring strike to Brad Wood that
tied the game at 7-7…Early in the second quarter, he forced the Trojans to punt when he
deflected a third-&-12 pass by Matt Leinart that was intended for Dwayne Jarrett…Jarrett was
jammed at the line by Johnson, as the receiver failed to get to another Leinart toss and on the
next play, Michael tackled tailback Reggie Bush for a 3-yard loss on a rushing attempt at the US
22…He then won a pair of foot races, hauling down LenDale White on a 38-yard run in the third
quarter and made a sensational play to upended Reggie Bush at the UA 6 after a 65-yard carry
midway through the fourth quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#86-Dominique Byrd-No
catches.
Stanford…Johnson posted a pair of tackles on defense and one more on special teams… He
batted down a Trent Edwards third-&-4 pass at the goal line late in the third quarter and took
down Gerren Crochet for no gain at the Stanford 35 on a fourth quarter punt return… Main Pass
Coverage Assignment-TE#87-Matt Traverso-One catch for 12 yards.
Oregon…Johnson followed with six tackles (3 solos), 1.5 stops for minus 7 yards and a pass
deflection…He batted away a Kellen Clemens pass intended for tight end Tim Day late in the
second quarter…Day was then penalized for holding Johnson, but the safety broke free to take
down Terrence Whitehead on an 8-yard run in the third quarter…On Oregon’s next drive, the
nickel back broke into the backfield to level tailback Jonathan Stewart for a 3-yard loss…Johnson
then assisted in taking down Whitehead for a 9-yard loss on a fourth quarter carry…Main Pass
Coverage Assignment-TE#85-Tim Day-No catches.
Oregon State…Johnson earned his first career start as a Wildcat, responding with nine tackles (5
solos) on defense and one more on special teams. He also intercepted three passes, earning
Nagurski Award National Player of the Week honors…On the game’s first play from scrimmage,
he chased down Biletnikoff Award winner Mike Haas after a 21-yard catch…He then picked off a
third-&-7 throw by Matt Moore at the OSU 40, returning the ball 40 yards for a
touchdown…Michael intercepted another Moore pass in the second quarter and tackled Sammy
Stroughter for a 3-yard loss on a third-quarter punt return…He also prevented a possible
touchdown by stopping Mike Haas on a 45-yard reception with 6:05 left to play…On third-&-7,
Moore attempted a last ditch pass, but Johnson picked it off and the Wildcats then ran out the
clock for a 29-27 decision…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#83-Dan Haines-No catches.
UCLA…Johnson totaled eight tackles (6 solos) with a stop for a 3-yard loss and made three thirddown
hits, with one more on fourth down…He stopped Marcus Everett for a 2-yard gain on a
third-&-7 pass from Drew Olson, forcing UCLA to punt at the start of the second quarter…In the
second quarter, Johnson stopped Chris Markey for a 3-yard loss…Markey was later stopped by
Michael for no gain on a third quarter punt return…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#19-
Marcedes Lewis-Two catches for 33 yards and one touchdown (Lewis had a total of eleven grabs
for 131 yards and two scores, but was covered by free safety Darrell Brooks most of the day).
Washington…Michael produced a season-high ten tackles (5 solos), including three third-down
stops…On the game’s opening series, he intercepted an Isaiah Stanback pass at the UA 34 and
Wildcats QB Willie Tuitama capitalized on that turnover for a 17-yard scoring strike to Syndric
Steptoe that gave Arizona a 7-0 lead…He chased down Stanback on a third-&-24 run that netted
21 yards on the Huskies’ next drive, forcing Washington to punt…At the end of the opening
stanza, he jammed Robert Lewis at the line, stopping the tight end from getting to a Stanback
throw from the UA 42…Stanback’s third-&-6 pass early in the second quarter was incomplete, as
the Wildcats safety prevented Anthony Russo from getting to the ball…He then stopped tailback
James Sims on a second-&-goal run that netted three yards in the third quarter…Main Pass
Coverage Assignment-TE#88-Robert Lewis-No catches.
Arizona State…Johnson finished his first season at Arizona with four solo tackles and a pass
deflection…On the game’s opening drive, he jammed Zach Miller at the line, stoping the tight end
from getting to a third-&-9 throw from QB Rudy Carpenter…He repeated that process, preventing
Miller from catching a third-&-6 throw from Carpenter later in the first stanza and again on a third-
&-5 throw in the second quarter…Slot receiver Matt Miller was then rerouted by Johnson on a
third-&-5 throw from Carpenter with 2:19 left in the first half…In the third quarter, he drew Zach
Miller offside for a 5-yard penalty and then batted away Carpenter’s sideline throw to his tight end
in the fourth quarter…Main Pass Coverage Assignment-TE#86-Zach Miller-Two catches for 36
yards (stopped Miller from getting to four other throws).

No Information Available

PERSONAL
Communications major…Brother, Reggie Brown, played linebacker at Texas A&M (1992-95) and
also played for the Detroit Lions (1996-97)…Son of Elizabeth Brown of Round Rock, Texas, and
Reggie Johnson of Austin, Texas…Born 5/09/84 in Austin, Texas… Resides in Round Rock,
Texas.

Season Stats Game Stats