3 things to know about new Carolina Panthers DE Darryl Johnson

Darryl Johnson played his college ball close to the Carolina Panthers

Darryl Johnson might be a familiar face to some sections of the Carolina Panthers’ fanbase. The defensive end played his college football at nearby North Carolina A&T and despite coming from a smaller program, put up the sort of numbers that ensured his name was called late in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Johnson was a supreme force in the collegiate system, earning MEAC defensive player of the year honors after a sensational campaign that resulted in 55 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks.

This familiarity with the region might not seem like much. But it might smooth Johnson’s transition to the Panthers.

There isn’t much time for the player to acclimatize, with Carolina gearing up for their Week 1 clash against the New York Jets on September 12.

The player has featured in 31 games over his first two seasons in the league. Johnson formed a part of Buffalo’s defensive line rotation en route to 29 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and 10 pressures from 450 snaps.

There is a lot to like about the athletic attributes Johnson brings to the table. And who knows, perhaps being in an area where he showed out as a young college hopeful could take his game to new heights moving forward.