Former FSU Football Star Makes First Career Pro Bowl With New York Jets

Originally posted on FanNation NoleGameDay
By Kade Kimble | Last updated 1/30/24

The Florida State Seminoles have plenty of alumni scattered in the NFL, and some of those former college football standouts have carved out incredible professional football careers.

One of the most recent Seminoles stars to break out in the NFL is former Florida State defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson.

Johnson initially started his college football career at Independence Community College before transferring to Georgia for two seasons. He played his final college football season at Florida State, where he starred enough to end up as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Picked by the New York Jets, Johnsons appeared in 14 games with zero starts in his rookie season. Still, with 2.5 sacks, Johnson showed the potential that he was understood to have in his lone season with the Seminoles.

In the 2023 NFL season, Johnson's second season in the pros, he started in each of the 17 regular season games for the Jets. In those games, he totaled 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and an interception, adding 11 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits.

The impressive breakout season led to Johnson being selected to his first Pro Bowl, as was announced on Tuesday.

"Headed to my first Pro Bowl! All glory to GOD," Johnson shared on social media.

For Florida State fans, this comes as no surprise. Johnson had 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He led the ACC in tackles for loss and sacks in the 2021 college football season, which led to him being the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Johnson thrives in one of the most talented defenses in the league, and, next season, the Jets will see Aaron Rodgers return to the field as they mount up for a Super Bowl-hopeful season.

If the Jets are able to make a playoff push, it'll be fun to watch a player of the caliber of Johnson make big-time plays on the biggest stage.