Marcus Johnson - Football Coach

Marcus Johnson

Title:
Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
Phone:
325-3470
Position(s):
Offensive Line

Offensive Line | Second season at MSU | @MJohnson7672

Former NFL offensive lineman and Mississippi native Marcus Johnson made the return to his home state as offensive line coach for Mississippi State in 2018.

Johnson, a native of Coffeeville, Mississippi, played four NFL seasons and spent the last two years as the offensive line coach on David Cutcliffe’s staff at Duke. Johnson joined the Duke staff in July of 2011. Prior to being promoted to head offensive line coach in February of 2016, Johnson worked two years (2011-12) as an assistant with the Blue Devils’ strength and conditioning program. He then served in the capacity of offensive quality control for three seasons (2013-15).

His first season at MSU was a successful one as his offensive line helped the offense rank second in the SEC in both rushing yards per game (223.6) and yards per rush (5.7). Anchored by center Elgton Jenkins, the 44th overall pick by Green Bay in the 2019 NFL Draft, the offensive line paved the way for State to rush for 300 or more yards in an SEC-best four games.

One of the most versatile offensive linemen in MSU history, Jenkins was the recipient of the Kent Hull Trophy in 2018, awarded annually to the top offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi, and earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic and fourth-team honors from Phil Steele. The second-highest drafted offensive lineman in school history, Jenkins played 773 total snaps, including 369 in pass protection, in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus.

He did not allow a sack through the first nine games of the season and surrendered zero QB hits and only six total pressures throughout the year.

Also under Johnson’s guidance, Deion Calhoun had a standout senior season in 2018, earning second-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. Calhoun allowed only two sacks over 356 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, and signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent.

In his seven seasons, he helped guide Duke to five bowl appearances from 2012-17. Duke had not appeared in a bowl game since 1995.

During the 2017 campaign, Johnson worked with third team All-ACC center Austin Davis, who was also one of four team-elected captains. Johnson’s offensive line opened holes for Duke to have two 200-200 performances as the Blue Devils reached the Quick Lane Bowl. Off the field, Johnson oversaw the selection of offensive tackle Gabe Brandner to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as well as being a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy and Wuerffel Award. In 2016, Johnson oversaw an offensive front that allowed time and space for four 200-200 performances during the season.

During Johnson’s three campaigns with the Blue Devil offense in the capacity of quality control, Duke won 27 games, captured the 2013 ACC Coastal Division championship and appeared in three bowl games. Working alongside veteran line coach John Latina, Johnson helped guide seven All-ACC picks including Casey Blaser, Takoby Cofield, Dave Harding, Lucas Patrick, Perry Simmons, Matt Skura and Laken Tomlinson.

Duke went 8-5 with a victory over Indiana in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in 2015, and the Blue Devils joined Clemson and North Carolina as the only three squads in the league to rank among the conference’s top five in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and scoring offense. Blaser, Patrick and Skura each garnered All-ACC honors.

In 2013, Duke ranked among ACC leaders in scoring (5th; 32.8 ppg), total offense (4th; 426.1 ypg), rushing offense (5th; 178.0 ypg) and passing offense (6th; 248.1 ypg).
On its way to the ACC Coastal Division championship, the Blue Devils set a school record for total points (459) while becoming the first team in school history to post 25-plus rushing touchdowns and 25-plus passing touchdowns in the same season.

Johnson lettered four seasons (2001-04) as an offensive lineman at Ole Miss under Cutcliffe, serving as team co-captain as a senior. He helped the Rebels to 28 wins over four years and a pair of bowl game appearances. After earning second team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press as a senior, Johnson represented Ole Miss at the 2004 Senior Bowl.

A second round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2005 NFL Draft, Johnson spent four seasons (2005-08) with the Vikings and helped the squad to the NFC North Division championship and a playoff berth in 2008. After spending the 2009 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he closed his playing career with a stint with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.

Johnson graduated from Ole Miss in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice while minoring in sociology. He has one daughter, London. He is married to Veullana Johnson.

Personal Information
Hometown: Coffeeville, Miss.
Education: Ole Miss, 2004 (Criminal Justice)
Wife: Veullana
Children: London
Birthday: December 1, 1981

Coaching Experience
2018-p: Mississippi State (Offensive Line)
2016-17: Duke (Offensive Line)
2013-15: Duke (Offensive Quality Control)
2011-12: Duke (Assistant Strength and Conditioning)

Bowl Games as a Coach
2019 Outback Bowl (Mississippi State)
2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Duke)
2014 Sun Bowl (Duke)
2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl (Duke)
2012 Belk Bowl (Duke)