MARSHALL, Texas – Invading the professional ranks for the second year in a row, former East Texas Baptist University football player C.J. Johnson has signed a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Johnson played three years for ETBU and is from Fort Worth, Texas.

Last year Sam Williams signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and is currently on their roster. It is also the second time in five years that ETBU has had a player sign a free agent contract as Jermaine Sherman signed with then St. Louis Rams in 2014.

Johnson ran a 4.75 40-yard dash, had a 38-inch vertical jump, and bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times in his pro day at North Texas. On Draftscout.com, he was rated 39^th out of 156 linebackers available in the draft.
 
The two-time All-ASC first-team selection finished this the 2017 season with 8.5 sacks for 44 yards and 11 tackles-for-loss. He recorded 35 tackles and had 13 quarterback hurries. In all three seasons, ETBU went 7-3 which is the first time the program has produced three straight winning seasons. He was also a part of the 2015 ASC Championship team.

Other players that have played in the professional ranks:
Ty Parsons - Elmshorn Pirates - Germany (2018-current)
Sam Williams – Signed Saskatchewan Roughriders – CFL (2017-current)
Kendall Roberson – Preseason Winnipge Blue Bombers – CFL (2017) Preseason Tryouts, Arizona Cardinals – NFL (2016)
Jermaine Sherman – Free Agent contract St. Louis Rams – NFL (2013)
Stephen Alfred – Texas Revolution, San Angelo Bandits – Champions Indoor Football League (2016) - CIF
Xavier Davis – Salina Liberty (Indoor Football League) (2016) - CIF
Jaylen McCloney - San Angelo Bandits (2016), Dodge City Law (2017) (Indoor Football League) - CIF
Sed Harris – Signed Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2012), Preseason Cleveland Browns – NFL (2015)
Brett Peddicord - Warsaw Eagles - Poland (2011), Texas Revolution (2012) (Indoor Football League)
Scott Verhalen – NFL Combine, Preseason Tampa Bay Buccaneers