Chris Johnson Named an Associated Press Second-Team All-American

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State senior cornerback Chris Johnson has been named a second-team Associated Press All-American. Johnson is the first Aztec to make an AP All-America team since Jonah Tavai garnered second-team honors in 2022 and the first SDSU cornerback since Luq Barcoo was a second-team honoree in 2019.

This is the fifth All-America team Johnson has made, including first-team nods by Pro Football Focus (Dec. 10), Bleacher Report (Dec. 11) and Sports Info Solutions (Dec. 11), and second-team accolades by the Associated Press (Dec. 15) and Pro Football & Sports Network (Dec. 10).

Johnson completed one of the best regular seasons defensively in program history, registering 49 tackles (36 solo), four interceptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns, nine pass breakups, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for the best defensive back in the country and the Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Johnson is tied for the top-graded cornerback in the country with a 92.0 defensive grade per Pro Football Focus and has the second-highest pass coverage grade (92.4), both with a minimum of just 10 defensive snaps. According to PFF, when targeted against Johnson this year, receivers are 18-for-45 (44.2 pct.) for 185 yards, four interceptions and no touchdowns, for a defensive pass efficiency rating of 56.76.

Despite missing the Hawai‘i game with an injury (Hawai‘i had 300 total yards in the first half vs. San Diego State and scored 38 points in the game), Johnson ranks in a tie for first in FBS in interceptions returned for a touchdown (2, T-1st in MW), fourth in interception yards (146, 1st in MW), tied for ninth in passes defended per game (1.17, 1st in MW), tied for 16th in total interceptions (4, T-3rd in MW), tied for 22nd in interceptions per game (0.36, T-5th in MW) and tied for 34th in total pass breakups (9, T-4th in MW).

Johnson led an Aztec defense that has an FBS-leading three shutouts (42-0 vs. Stony Brook, 34-0 vs. California (first time Cal was shut out since 2019 and first time vs. unranked team since 1994) and 23-0 at Fresno State (first time FS was shut out at home since 1980)). SDSU’s defense has held seven opponents to seven or fewer points. The only other teams to do that in the CFP era are Alabama (2016), Clemson (2018), Georgia (2021) and Michigan (2023)).

Earlier this month, Johnson became the fourth Aztec to be named a MW Defensive Player of the Year, joining linebacker Kirk Morrison (2003-04), cornerback Damontae Kazee (2015-16) and defensive linemen Cameron Thomas (2021).

The Aztecs finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, including a 6-2 mark in Mountain West play. SDSU tied with Boise State, New Mexico and UNLV atop the league standings, but was left out of a MW Championship appearance because of computer rankings. BS, which San Diego State beat, 17-7, in the regular season, captured the MW Championship with a 38-21 win over UNLV.

The six-win improvement for the Aztecs in regular-season play from last year (3-9) to this season (9-3) matches the largest win increase by SDSU in program history (since 1921), joining a six-win improvement from 1960 (1-6-1) to 1961 (7-2-1).

San Diego State faces No. 25 (CFP) and No. 23 (AP) North Texas (11-2) in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 3:45 p.m. MT (2:45 p.m. PT). The game will be played at University Stadium in Albuquerque, and will air nationally on ESPN and San Diego Sports 760, the home of San Diego State athletics.

Chris Johnson All-America Teams
First Team
Pro Football Focus (Dec. 10)
Bleacher Report (Dec. 11)
Sports Info Solutions (Dec. 11)

Second Team
Pro Football & Sports Network (Dec. 10)
*Associated Press (Dec. 15)

* officially recognized by the NCAA for consensus and unanimous College Football All-America Team