Alonzo Johnson Explained

Alonzo Johnson
Number:54
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:4 April 1963
Birth Place:Panama City, Florida, U.S.
Death Place:Bay County, Florida, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:222
College:Florida
Draftyear:1986
Draftround:2
Draftpick:48
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statleague:NFL
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:18
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:9
Statlabel3:Sacks
Statvalue3:1.0
Statlabel4:Interceptions
Statvalue4:3
Pfr:JohnAl25

Alonzo Al Johnson (April 4, 1963 – February 1, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s. Johnson played college football for the Florida Gators, and was recognized twice as a first-team All-American. He was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft.

Early life

Alonzo Al Johnson was born in Panama City, Florida.[1] He attended Rutherford High School in Panama City,[2] where he was a standout high school football player for the Rutherford Rams.

College career

Johnson accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Charley Pell and coach Galen Hall's Florida Gators football teams from 1982 to 1985.[3] Johnson was a key member of the Gators' defense in 1984 and 1985 when the Gators posted identical 9–1–1 overall win–loss records and led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with best-in-the-conference records of 5–0–1 and 5–1, respectively. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985, and also a team captain both years.[3] He finished his four-year college career with 335 tackles, 55 tackles for a loss and 27 quarterback sacks.[3]

Johnson was later voted to the Florida Gators' All-Century Team and All-Time Team,[3] and inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."[4] [5] In 2006, he was ranked as No. 35 among the top 100 Gators of the first century of Florida football by the sportswriters of The Gainesville Sun.[6]

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (48th overall) of the 1986 NFL draft.[7] He played for the Eagles from to .[8] As a rookie, he played in fifteen games and started nine of them at rightside linebacker, with three interceptions.[1] He left the Eagles before the beginning of the 1987 season in order to enter a drug rehabilitation program,[9] and subsequently only played in three games for the Eagles in 1987.[1] He was placed on the non-football injury list in December 1987,[10] and did not play again.[1]

Death

Johnson died in Bay County, Florida, on February 1, 2024, at the age of 60.[11]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Alonzo Johnson. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  2. databaseFootball.com, Players, Alonzo Johnson . Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  3. 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 87, 92, 96, 98, 124, 153, 182 (2011). Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  4. F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  5. " Nine Former Gators Named to UF Hall of Fame," GatorZone.com (April 4, 2002). Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  6. Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, " No. 35 Alonzo Johnson," The Gainesville Sun (July 30, 2006). Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  7. Web site: 1986 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-10-02 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  8. National Football League, Historical Players, Alonzo Johnson. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  9. Associated Press, " Eagle Reportedly Seeks Drug Help," The New York Times (August 30, 1987). Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  10. Associated Press, " New setback for ex-Gator Alonzo Johnson," The Gainesville Sun, p. 9E (December 6, 1987). Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  11. https://www.wjhg.com/2024/02/03/rutherford-uf-football-legend-alonzo-johnson-has-passed-away/ Rutherford and UF football legend Alonzo Johnson has passed away