Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 98 Days (Jerome Johnson)

#98

Written By Alex Compton

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off has begun! There are now 98 days until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2017 season against the Ohio State Buckeyes. That seems like a long way away and I suppose it is, but this countdown will fly by and it will be football season before we know it! Today’s countdown takes a look at #98 Jerome Johnson.

Jerome Johnson

-Height: 6’3”
-Weight: 300 pounds
-Hometown: Bassfield, Mississippi
-Position: Defensive Tackle

After being identified as a weak spot in Indiana’s defense before last season, the defensive line actually stepped up and put together a solid season. In order for the defense to reach its full potential this year however, they will have to take another jump, and the D-Line will have to be leading that jump. The line is deep this year, and Jerome Johnson is a guy that factors right into the mix for major playing time.

Johnson was one of the last additions to the 2016 class, and came to IU as a highly decorated three-star prospect. In his senior season, Johnson totaled 88 tackles, eight sacks and 20 tackles for loss while leading Bassfield high school to their fourth straight state championship game. He was a three time first team All-State and All-Region selection, was the 2015 Mississippi Association of Coaches player of the year, and played in the 2015 Mississippi and Alabama all-star game, among others. Johnson was able to redshirt this past season, and has been one of IU’s more impressive players up front this spring according to some chatter coming out of camp. 
Despite being somewhat thin in the middle up front on defense last season, Johnson didn’t see any game action. Now that Ralph Green is gone, Johnson could actually start as a redshirt freshman. IU will be able to throw a bunch of different guys like freshman Juan Harris, Robert McCray, Ja’merez Bowen, Mike Barwick Jr. and others in the middle this season, but Johnson will likely be one of the top two snap-getters out of the unit. Getting him in the weight room for a year under Keith Caton should have made his upper body stronger, and IU really needs him to be able to provide some sort of pressure up the middle this year. He is an excellent asset in the run game, but a more balanced Johnson would help IU in a number of ways on defense this season. Look for Jerome Johnson to play a big role on the defense this year, and to be a big factor towards deciding if IU’s defense takes the next step or not. 
 

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