2019 • SENIOR SEASON
Awards: Named Pro Football Focus All-America honorable mention...Selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media...Tabbed Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten second team...Selected Academic All-Big Ten...Earned the Bob Mitinger Memorial Award, as a senior who exhibits courage, character and social responsibility, at the team's awards banquet...Claimed the Captain's Award...Named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy...Selected as a Pro Football Focus Midseason All-American honorable mention...Tabbed Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week second team following the Michigan State game (10/26)...Named to the Pro Football Focus National and Big Ten Team of the Week first team following his performance vs. Pitt (9/14).
Season: Made 13 starts...Selected as a team captain...One of 11 players to have earned their degree entering the Cotton Bowl...Graduated with his degree in psychology in August 2018...Graduated with his master's degree in management and organizational leadership in May 2019...Earned a scholarship on October 18, 2018.
Rankings: Sits fourth in the Big Ten and 27th in the FBS with two fumble recoveries.
Idaho (8/31): Registered two tackles. Buffalo (9/7): Set a career high with 14 tackles, including nine in the first half. Pittsburgh (9/14): Collected five tackles, including four solo...Earned his first career sack...Forced a fumble in the fourth quarter, the first in his career. at Maryland (9/27): Secured an interception to end Maryland's opening drive...Returned the interception for 17 yards...Added one tackle and one pass breakup. Purdue (10/5): Assisted on one tackle. at Iowa (10/12): Recorded two tackles...Recovered his first career fumble. Michigan (10/19): Collected two tackles...Added a QB hurry. at Michigan State (10/26): Posted six tackles, including two solo...Added a pass breakup. at Minnesota (11/9): Registered 11 tackles, including six solo...Made a career-high three tackles for loss. Indiana (11/16): Posted six tackles...Recovered a fumble on a muffed punt...Added a QB hurry. at Ohio State (11/23): Collected seven tackles, including four solo...Assisted on a tackle for loss. Rutgers (11/30): Secured three tackles. vs. Memphis (12/28): Recorded four tackles, including three solo
2018 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Was an Academic All-Big Ten selection...Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week (11/6) following the Michigan game.
Season: Made 13 starts...One of 20 players to make their first career start...One of five players to have earned their degree entering spring ball...Earned a scholarship on October 18, 2018.
Appalachian State (9/1): Made first career start, lining up at middle linebacker...Led the Nittany Lions with a career-high 11 tackles, including four solo. at Pittsburgh (9/8): Recorded five tackles with a half-sack. Kent State (9/15): Collected two tackles. at Illinois (9/21): Tallied six stops...Grabbed first career interception in the fourth quarter. Ohio State (9/29): Recorded five tackles. Michigan State (10/13): Collected five tackles. at Indiana (10/20): Tallied three stops. Iowa (10/27): Registered four tackles. at Michigan (11/3): Collected 10 tackles, including seven solo...Matched a career best with a full tackle for loss and had first career pass breakup. Wisconsin (11/10): Recorded five tackles, including four solo. at Rutgers (11/17): Registered eight tackles. Maryland (11/24): Made two solo stops. vs. Kentucky (1/1): Recorded six tackles.
2017 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Awards: Named Academic All-Big Ten.
Season: Appeared in six games.
Akron (9/2): Logged two tackles – both solo. Georgia State (9/16): Made one stop. at Northwestern (10/7): Recorded two stops. Rutgers (11/11): Posted a season-high four tackles. Nebraska (11/18): Saw time on defense and special teams...Returned his first career kickoff for 7 yards. at Maryland (11/25): Logged three tackles...Made his first career tackle for loss, a solo stop behind the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter.
2016 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: Presented the 2017 Red Worrell Award for the offensive player who has best demonstrated exemplary conduct, loyalty, interest, attitude and improvement during spring practice.
Season: Appeared in one game...One of 27 freshmen (22 redshirt, 5 true) to appear...Was one of three Penn State linebackers to suffer a season-ending injury...Earned Dean's List accolades in the 2016 fall semester.
at Michigan (9/24): Made his collegiate debut in the second quarter...Totaled his first two career tackles...Left the game in the second quarter with a season-ending injury.
2015 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Redshirt season...Was a member of Penn State’s National Championship wrestling team...Wrestled at heavyweight in eight duals.
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-time letterman for head coach Dominic Vecchio at Governor Mifflin High School...Was team captain his senior year...Helped lead the Mustangs to four consecutive Berks County Championships...Played linebacker for three years and quarterback for two seasons...Named to the 2014 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class AAAA All-State team...Selected to the Big 33 Classic and the Berks County All-Star game...Had 1,200 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns and 900 passing yards with 12 touchdowns as a senior...Accounted for 800 rushing yards and 600 passing yards as a junior...Totaled 900 rushing yards, 850 passing yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore...Lettered in wrestling (four times), track & field (three times) and lacrosse (one time) at Governor Mifflin...Was a two-time Class AAA State Champion, a two-time District 3 Champion in wrestling and a four-time Berks County Champion in wrestling at the 195-pound weight class.
PERSONAL
Full name is Jan Curtis Johnson Jr....Son of Jan and Theresa Johnson...Has two sisters, Gabriella and Rachel...Father was a wrestler at Penn State from 1981-84 and mother was a swimmer for the Nittany Lions from 1983-86...Also has an uncle, Joel Johnson, who wrestled at Penn State (1979-82) and an aunt, Deborah Hayes, who was a swimmer at Penn State (1986-89)...Aunt, Kerry Johnson, attended Penn State...Enjoys hunting and fishing...Earned a degree in psychology in August 2018 and a master's in management and organizational leadership in May 2019...Working on a third degree in health policy and administration...Born April 9, 1996 in Reading, Pennsylvania.