Defensive Tackle Dennis Johnson Grand Valley State University (GVSULAKERS.COM)
The D.C. Defenders added defensive tackle Dennis Johnson to their 90-man roster via a player-rights draft for players who were either invited to last month’s XFL Combine or who participated in any of the XFL Showcases held earlier this summer.
Johnson’s eligibility stems from his attendance in last month’s combine, where he seemingly left his impression on Defenders coaches and front-office personnel. In testing, he finished second among defensive linemen in max jump strength (403.9 newtons). He also finished fifth among defensive linemen in max strength percentile based on bench press (94%) and fifth in max speed (20.54 MPH).
Johnson played college ball at Grand Valley State University, where he spent six years from 2016-2021. His most notable season undoubtedly came in 2019 as a redshirt junior, where he notched career highs in tackles (24), TFLs (seven), and sacks (1.5). This performance yielded First-Team All-GLIAC Conference honors as well as GVSU Defensive Lineman of the Year for the Columbus, Ohio native. Unfortunately, Johnson never got the chance to replicate his previous year’s success as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season and he had to wait until 2021 to get back on the gridiron. While his senior-season performance didn’t top his junior year, he still recorded a solid 14 tackles, including two TFLs, as a team captain for GVSU.
Johnson received an invite to New York Giants rookie minicamp after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but hasn’t received another opportunity in the NFL since.
Johnson makes for a powerful addition to the D.C. defensive line with his 6’2”, 309 lbs frame. He can be utilized in both a 3-4 or 4-3, which makes him an excellent fit for the Defenders, who employ a multiple system under Gregg Williams.
It’s also interesting to note that other teams drafted as many as seven guys during today’s draft. Perhaps Johnson was one of the only prospects who really stood out to the Defenders during this summer’s showcase/combine process.
