Calvin Johnson, Jr. - Class of 2019 Inductee
Channel: Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Date: 2019-03-07

When there is talk about the best wide receiver in the history of college and pro football, Calvin Johnson, Jr.’s is sure to be in the conversation. The former Sandy Creek High School standout had all the tools needed and put them to good use. He had the size, plus the catching ability, speed, strength, and leaping ability needed to exile at the wide receiver position. 

Johnson, Jr. was consistently rated as one of the top wide receivers in the state and nation by numerous recruiting analyst. His jersey number 81 was retired by Sandy Creek High in 2010.

He enrolled at Georgia Tech and during his three-year college career, had 178 receptions for 2,927 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 100-yard receiving games. He was a three-time, first-team All-ACC selection and a two-time All-American while playing for the Yellow Jackets. In 2006, he was honored as the ACC Player of the Year. He also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver as well as the Paul Warfield Trophy. In January 2018, Johnson, Jr. was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

In 2007, Johnson, Jr. was a first-round, second overall pick in the NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions, where he spent his entire nine seasons of professional football. Nicknamed “Megatron” by one of his teammates, he put up staggering numbers for the Lions. During the 2012 season, Johnson, Jr. broke Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s single-season record for receiving yards with 1,964, an average of almost 123 yards per game. Johnson, Jr. was also a six-time Pro Bowl selection, a three-time First-Team All-Pro, a two-time NFL Receiving Yards Leader, an NFL Receptions Leader, and an NFL Receiving Touchdown Leader. His final NFL statistics show he had 731 receptions for 11,610 yards for an average of 15.9 per catch. He finished with 83 receiving touchdowns.