Clay

Johnston

Johnston (6’1/227) was a starting middle linebacker at Baylor who missed multiple games in two of his three starting seasons with a torn ACL and foot injury. When healthy, he was a productive tackler and on-field leader. As a redshirt junior, he made 99 tackles and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors, and he was on his way to another big season in 2019 before tearing his ACL, which sidelined him during the pre-draft process as well. He’s at his best coming downhill against the run, although his overaggressive nature can be a negative against shiftier players. Johnston will have to overcome a lengthy injury history to earn a backup linebacker and special teams role, even with the defensive-depleted Rams.

Johnston (6'1"/227) dealt with various ailments in each of the last three seasons, culminating with a season-ending knee injury in October. Johnston had been very productive prior to his injury, recording 58 tackles, eight TFL, 2.5 sacks, five PBU and one interception en route to being named second-team All-Big 12. A coach’s son, Johnston is instinctive and plays with physicality despite athletic limitations. Zierlein writes that Johnston is a “detail-oriented inside linebacker who needs a clean bill of health after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October.” He is likely to be a UDFA whose special-teams acumen could land him a NFL roster spot if things break right.

Johnston (6'1"/232), an integral member of the Baylor defense, suffered the injury while attempting to plant his foot during Saturday’s overtime win over Texas Tech. Due to the redshirt senior’s ability to make plays from one sideline to the other, he was able to cover up for the mistakes of some of his teammates on the defensive side of the football. Johnston finishes the 2019 season with 58 total tackles (8.0 for loss) 2.5 sacks, one interception and five pass breakups. Freshman Matt Jones was listed as Johnston’s backup ahead of the Texas Tech game.

Johnston (6'1/220) is dealing with a sprained foot and Rhule explained to reporters that he wants to avoid the redshirt sophomore linebacker developing a Lisfranc fracture (notoriously one of the trickiest injuries to come back from in full). In eight games this season, Johnston leads the Bears with 54 tackles (9.0 for loss). Rhule indicated that Lenoy Jones Jr. will probably start in his place moving forward.