2022: Started all 12 games, finishing No. 4 on the team and tying his career high with 60 tackles (41 solo), two INTs, four passes defensed, a QB hurry and a forced fumble…Earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from Phil Steele's College Football, second-team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches and All-Big 12 honorable mention from the Pro Football Network...Moved to safety after playing cornerback his first four seasons...Served as a team captain…Part of a defense that led the Big 12 in first downs allowed (188), passing defense (178.2 ypg), rushing defense (107.3 ypg), scoring defense (20.2 ppg) and total defense (285.6 ypg)…Earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year and was on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll…Nominated for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team…Earned a spot on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field…Vs. Ohio (Sept. 17): Totaled two tackles (both assists) and picked off his first career pass, intercepting QB Kurtis Rourke on the first play of the second quarter to give the Cyclones the ball at their own 49…Vs. Kansas State (Oct. 8): Matched his career high with a team-best nine tackles (four solo) and chased down WR Malik Knowles on a 68-yard play to force a fumble at the goal line that was recovered by the Cyclones for a touchback in the second quarter…At Texas (Oct. 15): Matched his career high and was tied for No. 2 on the team with nine tackles (team-best six solo) and a pass defensed…Vs. West Virginia (Nov. 5): Registered two tackles (both solo), a pass defensed and his second career INT. Picked off QB JT Daniels at the Iowa State 30 with just under five minutes to play in the second quarter.
2021: Started all 13 games and was No. 5 on the team with 55 tackles (32 solo), three tackles for a loss, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles…Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 from the coaches for the third straight year…Named first-team Academic All-Big 12 and to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll…At Baylor (Sept. 25): Ranked No. 2 on the team with a season-best seven tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble…Vs. Kansas State (Oct. 16): Finished No. 2 on the team in both tackles (seven) and solo tackles (six)…At West Virginia (Oct. 30): Matched his season high with seven tackles (three solo) and forced a fumble…At Oklahoma (Nov. 20): Recorded four tackles (two solo), a tackle for a loss and a sack. Brought down QB Caleb Williams at the Iowa State 32 for a loss of a yard on a drive that ended in a missed field goal by K Gabe Brkic…Vs. TCU (Nov. 26): Was tied for the team lead with six tackles (three solo), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed. Took down RB Emari Demercado for a loss of a yard on a pass to the right, setting up a third down and then a punt. In the third quarter, broke up a short pass to WR Blair Conwright on fourth-and-1.
2020: Started all 12 games, recording 40 tackles (22 solo), two tackles for a loss and five passes defensed…Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 from the coaches and second-team Academic All-Big 12 recognition…Registered multiple tackles in all 12 contests…At Oklahoma State (Oct. 24): Posted three stops (all solo), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed when he broke up a pass to WR Tylan Wallace on third-and-11, forcing a 37-yard field goal that was missed by K Alex Hale…Vs. Baylor (Nov. 7): Recorded season highs in tackles (six, No. 2 on the team) and solo tackles (four, tied for No. 2 on the team) along with a pass defensed…Vs. West Virginia (Dec. 5): Registered four tackles (two solo), a shared tackle for a loss and a pass defensed…Vs. Oklahoma (Big 12 Championship, Dec. 19): Finished with five tackles (one solo) and posted a pass defensed on a third-and-6 early in the fourth quarter to force a punt.
2019: Started all 13 games, posting career highs in tackles (60), solo tackles (47), tackles for a loss (seven), sacks (two), forced fumbles (two) and passes defensed (10)…Was tied for the team lead and tied for No. 6 in the Big 12 in passes defensed…Also tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (No. 8 in the Big 12)…Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 from the coaches and was second-team Academic All-Big 12…Posted a pass defensed in seven games…Finished with multiple tackles in 12 games, including five-plus stops in six contests…Vs. Iowa (Sept. 14): Finished No. 3 on the team with eight tackles (five solo, No. 2 on ISU), his first career sack and a season-best two tackles for a loss that led the team. In the second quarter, took down QB Nate Stanley for a loss of 7 yards on a third-and-1 to force a punt…At Baylor (Sept. 28): Registered five tackles (four solo, tied for No. 2 on the team), a tackle for a loss, a pass defensed and his first career forced fumble…Vs. West Virginia (Oct. 12): Tallied three tackles (all solo), a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble on a sack of QB Austin Kendall that WVU recovered for a loss of 8 yards on a third-and-2 in the first quarter…Vs. Oklahoma State (Oct. 26): Posted a career-high nine tackles (seven solo) and a pass defensed…Vs. Texas (Nov. 16): Tied for No. 2 on the team with seven tackles (four solo) and tied for the team lead with two passes defensed, including a pass breakup on third down on the opening drive of the game to force a punt…Vs. Kansas (Nov. 23): Registered six tackles (all solo, No. 2 on the team), a tackle for a loss and a career-high three passes defensed to lead the team.Â
2018: Saw action in 12 games with four starts, recording 28 tackles (22 solo), a tackle for a loss and five passes defensed (tied for No. 2 on the team)…Was one of only four true freshmen to not redshirt…Ranked No. 2 among Cyclone freshmen in tackles on the season (LB Mike Rose, 75) and registered three-plus tackles in each of the final six contests…Vs. Oklahoma (Sept. 15): Made his collegiate debut but did not record any statistics…At Kansas (Nov. 3): Recorded three tackles (all solo) and a season-best two passes defensed (tied for the team lead)…Vs. Baylor (Nov. 10): Finished with a season-high eight tackles (team-best seven solo), tied for the second most on the team, and a pass defensed…At Texas (Nov. 17): Posted three tackles (two solo) and the first tackle for a loss of his career when he took down WR Jerrod Heard for a loss of 2 yards on a reverse in the second quarter…Vs. Drake (Dec. 1): Was tied for the team lead with six tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a two-time all-state selection and a three-year starter at St. Petersburg (Fla.) High School…Was named to the All-Tampa Team by the Tampa Times in 2017…Recorded 36 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2017 despite missing half the season because of injury…Posted 46 tackles, seven INTs and 16 passes defensed as a junior…Registered 31 tackles, 10 passes defensed and a team-high six INTs as a sophomore…Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN…Also lettered three years in track.
PERSONAL: Given name Anthony Christopher Johnson Jr. …Born in St. Petersburg, Fla. …Volunteered at a juvenile detention center in Ames, Iowa.
