Hakeem Johnson

Hakeem Johnson (born June 14, 1994) is a professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Hakeem Johnson
Johnson with the Lions in 2022
Born: (1994-06-14) June 14, 1994
Brampton, Ontario
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Defensive back
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight190 lb (86 kg)
UniversityWestern Ontario
CJFLLondon Beefeaters
High schoolSt. Edmund Campion
CFL Draft2019 / Round: 4 / Pick: 33
Drafted byBC Lions
Career history
As player
2019–2022BC Lions
2023*Edmonton Elks
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Junior career

Following his high school playing career, Johnson played in the Canadian Junior Football League for the London Beefeaters from 2014 to 2015.[1]

University career

Johnson played U Sports football for the Western Mustangs from 2016 to 2018.[2] He was part of the 2017 Vanier Cup championship team where he was named an OUA second-team all-star that year. However, he suffered an ACL injury in the 2017 Yates Cup victory over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, which kept him sidelined for the entire 2018 season.[3][4] With the Mustangs, he played in 16 games where he had 22 tackles and three interceptions.[3]

Professional career

BC Lions

Johnson was drafted in the fourth round, 33rd overall, by the BC Lions in the 2019 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 16, 2019.[5] Following the team's training camp in 2019, he was assigned to the practice roster.[3] He then made his professional debut on September 6, 2019, against the Montreal Alouettes.[3] He played in eight regular season games in 2019 where he had three defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.[3]

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season, Johnson did not play in 2020. He made the team's opening day roster in 2021 and played in all 14 regular season games.[3] He made his first professional start on October 23, 2021, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where he had two tackles on defence.[6] In the final game of the season, on November 19, 2021, he recorded his first career interception in a game against the Edmonton Elks when he picked off Dakota Prukop.[7] In the 14 games that he played, he started in three, and recorded 12 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, and one interception.[3]

Johnson again made the team's active roster following training camp in 2022 and dressed as a backup defensive back.[3][8] He played in 16 regular season games where he recorded three defensive tackles and four special teams tackles.[3]

Edmonton Elks

Johnson joined the Edmonton Elks in free agency on February 17, 2023.[9] However, he was released after the second preseason game on May 28, 2023.[10]

Personal life

Johnson's brother, Shaq Johnson, also plays professional football, but as a wide receiver.[4] The two brothers played together for the Lions from 2019 to 2021 and were the fifth set of brothers to play for the Lions, but the first to play on opposite sides of the ball.[4]

References
  1. "Hakeem Johnson". London Beefeaters. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. "Hakeem Johnson". Western Mustangs. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. "Hakeem Johnson". BC Lions. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  4. "J.J. Adams: Brothers Johnson — Shaq and Hakeem — lift each other up with B.C. Lions". The Province. June 26, 2020.
  5. "B.C. Lions sign all seven players they selected in 2019 CFL draft". National Post. May 16, 2019.
  6. "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. "Edmonton Elks v BC Lions". Canadian Football League. November 19, 2021.
  8. "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  9. "Elks ink DB Hakeem Johnson". Edmonton Elks. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. "Transactions | Elks announce cuts". Edmonton Elks. May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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