New York Jets give undrafted Miami LB Caleb Johnson (48 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) a shot
Caleb Johnson was the Miami Hurricane linebacker who quietly racked up the numbers this past season in his only year with the Canes.
Now, Johnson hopes to earn a chance do the same — quietly or not — in the NFL.
Johnson, who came to UM from UCLA as a graduate transfer, was not chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft, but wiill get his shot with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.
Johnson, 6-0 and 230 pounds, is from Murrieta, California and played in 12 games in 2022, starting four. He finished fourth on the team in total tackles, with 48 (26 solo). Johnson had four tackles for loss, 1 ½ sacks and two forced fumbles.
At UCLA, Johnson started 17 games on the inside in 2020 and 2021. In a pandemic-shortened 2020, he led UCLA with 44 tackles and 5 ½ sacks and was second with 7 tackles for loss in seven games. In 2021, when the Bruins finished 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Pac-12, Johnson had 45 tackles, with one interception and three pass breakups.
Johnson chose UM over Texas, where he played three games in 2019 before transferring to UCLA entering the 2020 season. He also previously played at Fullerton [Community] College.
“Ultimately, I just wanted a better opportunity at I believe a better program – no offense to UCLA,’’ Johnson said last year after transferring. “I just saw a bigger platform and better coaching [at UM].’’
But Johnson didn’t beat out current Hurricane Corey Flagg to start in the middle.
At UM’s Pro Day on March 27, Johnson said he ran a speedy 4.40 as his fastest of two times, and had 25 bench-press reps.
Johnson got his UCLA degree in African-American Studies and was working on a master’s in sports administration.
