Marcus Johnson

Games and Starts

40 games/19 starts

Professional Biography

Versatile lineman who has started at RG and RT ...Started 10 games at RT in 2006...Became the 1st Vikings rookie OG to start a season opener in team history in 2005...Became only the 6th offensive line rookie in team history to start on opening day and the 1st since LT Todd Steussie in 1994...Joined LT Bryant McKinnie as the highest-drafted Vikings along the offensive line...Selected in the 2nd round (49th overall), the highest-drafted player in team history from Mississippi and the 1st since versatile OL Everett Lindsay was taken in the 5th round in 1993.

NFL History

• Part of Vikings kickoff return wedge that helped set a team record with a 24.8 KO return avg. in 2007.
• Filled in at RT when starter Ryan Cook left the game vs. Chicago (12/17) with illness on Monday Night Football.
• Played at RT for Vikings in mop-up time vs. Detroit (12/2).
• Stepped in for injured Ryan Cook at RT vs. Philadelphia (10/28) in the 2^nd half of the game.
• Provides Vikings with quality, experienced depth along the offensive line.
• Started opening 10 games at RT on the 2006 season.
• Helped Chester Taylor rush for 1,214 yards on the 2006 season, the 4^th-best single-season by a Viking.
• Started @ Seattle (10/22) and helped write Vikings history as Chester Taylor ran for a team-record 95-yard TD and the tied the 6^th-best rushing day in team history with 169 yards on the ground.
• Became the 1^st Vikings rookie G to start the season opener when he lined up against Tampa Bay (9/11/05).
• Ranks as only the 6^th offensive line rookie in team history to start on opening day.
• Becomes the 1^st Vikings rookie offensive lineman to start the season opener since Todd Steussie in 1994.
• Brother, Belton, was a lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals. Spent 3 seasons in college protecting NY Giants QB Eli Manning.

College Information

Started every game of his career, 48 total, opening 45 at RG and 3 at RT...Earned 2nd-Team All-SEC as a senior...Played in 2005 Senior Bowl...Team captain as a senior...Protected eventual #1 overall pick Eli Manning from 2001-03…Played alongside brother, Belton, in 2001 and 2002...Did not allow a defender more than 2 tackles in any game as a senior...Earned J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award as a rising senior...Ole Miss ranked #1 in the SEC in scoring in 2003 at 34.0 points per game and total offense at 433.2 yards per game.

2004 Started all 11 games, 8 at RG and 3 at RT…Did not allow more than 2 tackles in any game, including shutting out his opponents completely vs. Wyoming and South Carolina…Received the J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award, which is presented annually to the rising senior lineman who, in the opinion of his coaches, has demonstrated extraordinary courage and unusual compassion in their dedication to the team and Ole Miss...Helped pave the way for junior RB Vashon Pearson to rush for 807 yards on the 2004 season…Named Quarterback Club Trench Player of the Week following his performance at Wyoming.

2003 Started at RG in all 13 games...Helped Ole Miss rank 1st in the SEC in scoring (34.0 ppg), passing (286.0 ypg), and total offense (433.2 ypg)...Ole Miss averaged 147.2 ypg rushing, an improvement of 52.9 yards per game from 2002...The Rebels set school season offensive record for points scored (442), TD passes (31), passing yards (3,718), passing yards per game (286.0), first downs (295), offensive plays (940), total offense (5,631) and total offense per game (433.2)...It was the 1st time Ole Miss scored over 400 points in a season and the fourth straight year the Rebels have topped the 300-point mark.

2002 Started all 13 games at RG...Started next to his older brother, senior Belton Johnson...Key player on an offensive line that was 2nd in the SEC in the fewest sacks allowed with 14...Ole Miss generated over 350 yards of total offense in 8-of-13 games, including at least 450 yards in 4 games...With 351 points scored by Ole Miss, helped the Rebels top the 300-point mark 3 straight seasons for the 1st time in school history.

2001 Started all 11 games at RG, along side his older brother, Belton, who started all 11 games at RT...As a team, Ole Miss allowed the fewest sacks in the SEC with 10.

2000 Redshirted as a true freshman.

Personal Biography

Earned degree in criminal justice at Ole Miss in 2004...Older brother, Belton, was a teammate at Mississippi and played offensive line for the Cincinnati Bengals...The Johnson brothers started alongside each other in 2002 for the Rebels while protecting #1 pick Eli Manning...Teammate at Mississippi with Vikings DE Jayme Mitchell.