Expected to be a leader of the Kentucky defense … UK’s most experienced defensive player … Well-suited for the demands of his position, which is a combination of strong safety and outside linebacker … Has demonstrated a knack for being around the football throughout his career, totaling four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, four fumbles caused, and nine pass breakups as a Wildcat … Good fundamental tackler ... Would like to avoid the injuries that hampered him last season ... Has played in 30 games, starting 23.

2001: Started all seven games he played, missing four contests because of injury … Totaled 44 tackles, including five for loss … Collected interceptions in back-to-back games at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt … Also had a season-high nine tackles in the win over the Commodores.

2000 (Sophomore): Played every game, including six starts at strong safety … Fourth on the team in tackles with 44, including a career-high 13 stops against Indiana … Had three tackles for loss … Second on the team in pass breakups with four, including two in the Vanderbilt game … Made an excellent recovery from the eye injury sustained in the previous season. 1999 (Sophomore): Played and started one game, the season opener vs. Louisville … Sustained a broken orbital bone (eye socket) on the second play of the game, requiring season-ending surgery … Received a medical hardship because of the injury, retaining the year of eligibility.

1998 (Freshman): First-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News and Freshman All-SEC by the Knoxville News-Sentinel ... Picked as one of the nation’s top 10 true freshmen in the Oct. 3 issue of Sports Illustrated ... Played in all 11 regular-season games, starting nine ... Missed two starting assignments and played only briefly against Louisiana State and Georgia because of a sprained toe ... Finished fourth on the team in tackles with 53, including two for loss (-4) ... His season was highlighted by a number of big plays, four of which had a direct bearing on Wildcats victories ... Picked up a fumble on the first possession against Eastern Kentucky and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown ... Knocked loose a fumble against Indiana, recovered by UK, that set up a touchdown in the Wildcats’ comeback victory over the Hoosiers ... Broke up a fourth-down pass on the goal line against South Carolina ... Stormed in on a blitz and sacked the quarterback on fourth down against Mississippi State ... Had interceptions against Tennessee and Arkansas, including a pickoff of the Razorbacks’ Clint Stoerner that ended a school-record string of 137 passes without an interception ... Caused two fumbles and had four pass breakups ... Had a season-high 11 tackles in the Outback Bowl.

High School: Three-year starter as a defensive back at Princess Anne HS in Virginia Beach, Va. ... Also a two-year starter at tailback ... As a senior, led team in tackles with more than 100 stops ... Led the Tidewater area in interceptions with seven and returned three for touchdowns ... Offensively, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and tallied 11 touchdowns ... Caught 15 passes for more than 200 yards ... Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns ... Chosen second-team All-Eastern Region (eastern half of the state) ... Earned all-district and All-Tidewater area honors ... Second team all-district as a junior ... Won team’s Most Valuable Player Award his last two years ... Named Princess Anne HS Male Athlete of the Year ... Coached by Jeff Ballance ... Played on the varsity as a freshman at Middleton HS in Charleston, S. C. ... Three-year letterman in track, competing in the 4x200-meter relay, the long jump, and the triple jump ... Won the indoor track team’s Outstanding Senior Award ... Athletic ability highlighted by his 39-inch vertical jump, best in his district at a high school football combine ... Member of the DECA Club and the DARE program ... Chose UK over Michigan State and Georgia Tech.

Personal: Full name is Harold David Johnson ... Born 2/3/80 in Charleston, S.C. ... Son of Harold and Willamae Johnson ... Major is kinesiology.

The Cats Cause: Celebrity waiter at the Leukemia Luncheon (2001).

Johnson Career Statistics
Year  Position       G-GS Tackles TFL-Yds. Sacks-Yds. PBU Int.-Yds FC FR
1998  Strong Safety  11-9   53      3-9         1-5    4    2-51   2  1
1999  Strong Safety   1-1    1        0           0    0       0    1  0
2000  Strong Safety  11-6   44      3-5           0    4       0    1  0
2001  Outside Safety  7-7   44     5-18       0.5-4    1    2-29   0  1
Totals              30-23  142    11-32       1.5-9    9    4-80   4  2

Johnson Game-by-Game Statistics
1998
Opponent       Tackles PBU Int.
Louisville        6     1   0
Eastern Kentucky  6     0   0
Indiana           7     1   0
Florida           7     0   0
Arkansas          6     0   1
South Carolina    3     1   0
Louisiana State   1     0   0
Georgia           0     0   0
Mississippi State 5     0   0
Vanderbilt        4     1   0
Tennessee         8     0   1
Totals           53     4   2
Penn State       11     0   0
  (Outback Bowl)

2000
Opponent       Tackles PBU Int.
Louisville        4     0   0
South Florida     7     0   0
Indiana          13     1   0
Florida           5     0   0
Ole Miss          5     0   0
South Carolina    1     0   0
Louisiana State   1     0   0
Georgia           2     0   0
Mississippi State 2     1   0
Vanderbilt        3     2   0
Tennessee         1     0   0
Totals           44     4   0

2001
Opponent       Tackles PBU Int.
Louisville        5     0   0
Ball State        INJ
Florida           5     0   0
Mississippi       7     1   0
South Carolina    INJ
Louisiana State   INJ
Georgia           INJ
Mississippi State 4     0   1
Vanderbilt        9     0   1
Tennessee         7     0   0
Indiana           7     0   0
Totals           44     1   2