Reggie Johnson is in his fourth season as defensive line coach. He was hired Jan. 2, 2017.
True freshman defensive end George Karlaftis gave Johnson and the defensive line a major boost in 2019. The West Lafayette native posted the most sacks (7.5) by a Boilermaker since 2012 and the most tackles for loss (17.0) since 2011. Junior Derrick Barnes (63) and Karlaftis finished second and third on the team in tackles, respectively. Barnes also finished the season with 7.5 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. Karlaftis was named second team All-Big Ten by the conference's media and Barnes garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades from the conference's coaches.
Tackles Lorenzo Neal and Anthony Watts anchored the interior of the defensive line during the 2018 season. Neal wrapped up his junior season with 30 tackles, including three for loss and one sack, two pass breakups and a blocked kick en route to honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second straight year. Watts, a sophomore, took over the starting spot alongside Neal inside and recorded 42 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and one sack, with two pass breakups and one interception. Junior end Kai Higgins and redshirt freshman end Giovanni Reviere had 30 and 28 tackles, respectively.
Johnson’s first season finished with defensive tackle Gelen Robinson earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Robinson wrapped up his collegiate career with a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks. Senior defensive end Danny Ezechukwu was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick after amassing 50 tackles, including nine for loss and five sacks. Neal enjoyed a breakout season, totaling 22 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks.
Johnson joined the Boilermakers after spending the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. The Hilltoppers’ four primary defensive ends racked up 98 tackles, including 22 for loss and 11 sacks, with six pass breakups, two fumbles recovered and an interception.
Prior to Western Kentucky, Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M (2014-15), two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama-Birmingham (2012-13) and four seasons as linebackers coach at Arkansas (2008-11). Previously, he served four seasons as linebackers coach (2004-07), one season as defensive line coach (2003) and two years as a graduate assistant (1997-98) at Louisville, his alma mater. Johnson had a three-year stint at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000) and spent two seasons at UTEP as defensive ends (2001) and linebackers (2002) coach.
Johnson has coached in 10 bowl games, including the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl.
In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye, who was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007, played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson (born April 14, 1969) and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.
True freshman defensive end George Karlaftis gave Johnson and the defensive line a major boost in 2019. The West Lafayette native posted the most sacks (7.5) by a Boilermaker since 2012 and the most tackles for loss (17.0) since 2011. Junior Derrick Barnes (63) and Karlaftis finished second and third on the team in tackles, respectively. Barnes also finished the season with 7.5 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. Karlaftis was named second team All-Big Ten by the conference's media and Barnes garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades from the conference's coaches.
Tackles Lorenzo Neal and Anthony Watts anchored the interior of the defensive line during the 2018 season. Neal wrapped up his junior season with 30 tackles, including three for loss and one sack, two pass breakups and a blocked kick en route to honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second straight year. Watts, a sophomore, took over the starting spot alongside Neal inside and recorded 42 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and one sack, with two pass breakups and one interception. Junior end Kai Higgins and redshirt freshman end Giovanni Reviere had 30 and 28 tackles, respectively.
Johnson’s first season finished with defensive tackle Gelen Robinson earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Robinson wrapped up his collegiate career with a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks. Senior defensive end Danny Ezechukwu was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick after amassing 50 tackles, including nine for loss and five sacks. Neal enjoyed a breakout season, totaling 22 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks.
Johnson joined the Boilermakers after spending the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. The Hilltoppers’ four primary defensive ends racked up 98 tackles, including 22 for loss and 11 sacks, with six pass breakups, two fumbles recovered and an interception.
Prior to Western Kentucky, Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M (2014-15), two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama-Birmingham (2012-13) and four seasons as linebackers coach at Arkansas (2008-11). Previously, he served four seasons as linebackers coach (2004-07), one season as defensive line coach (2003) and two years as a graduate assistant (1997-98) at Louisville, his alma mater. Johnson had a three-year stint at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000) and spent two seasons at UTEP as defensive ends (2001) and linebackers (2002) coach.
Johnson has coached in 10 bowl games, including the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl.
In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye, who was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007, played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson (born April 14, 1969) and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.