Cougar Athletics
31 NAIA National Championships
99 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: An upbeat yet intense player, senior Matt Johnson is a team leader and a key contributor ... Will battle for a starting spot along the defensive front and offer great depth for the Cougars ...Very strong and noted for his tenacity ... Penciled to serve as the team long-snapper as well.

2007: As a 2007 junior, his first as a Cougar, appeared in all 11 games, starting the final 9 in a row ... Was eighth on the team with 43 tackles (12 solo) ... Best showing came in his first start (sixth game of the season) vs. Southern Oregon when he tallied 9 tackles including 1.5 for loss ... Had 7 tackles and a sack vs. Malone and 4 tackles, including 2 sacks, vs. Dixie State ... Was the Cougar long-snapper in all 10 games as well.

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played 2 years for former Cougar assistant Kevin Emerson at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. ... Earned All-Western States Conference as a 2005 sophomore ... Was a member of an Owls' program that went 13-7 in his 2 seasons ... Signed with BYU but did not attend.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 3-sport standout at West Covina (Calif.) High ... Played 3 seasons of varsity football for head coach Mike Maggiore ... Was a 2-time All-San Antonio League pick, earning the honor on both sides of the line his 2002 junior and 2003 senior seasons ... Named San Gabriel Valley Tribune All-Valley on defense in 2003 ... As a 2001 sophomore, named All-Sierra League on defense and was voted the team's most improved ... Earned 4 varsity letters in wrestling ... As a senior won the CIF title ... Was the CIF finalist as a junior.

PERSONAL: Born March 24, 1986, in Pasadena, Calif., to Dane (pastor) and Tracy Johnson ... Has one brother (Christopher) ... Majoring in exercise and sport science ... Would like to be a high school teacher and coach wrestling and football ... Coached girl's wrestling at West Covina High and had 4 girls place at the state meet in 2007 and coached a 2008 state champ.

YEAR  G-GS  SOLO  AS'T  TACKLES  TFL-YDS  SACKS-YDS  FF  FR  PD
2007  10-3   12    31      43      6-23     3-18      1   0   0