Galloway's Austin Johnson Selected By Tennessee Titans in NFL Draft

The first Penn State University football player taken in the 2016 NFL Draft originally called Galloway Township home.

The Tennessee Titans selected Austin Johnson with the 43rd overall pick, and 14th in the second round Friday night in Chicago. It was the Titans’ second pick of the second round, after they traded the No. 1 pick to the Los Angeles Rams, who used that pick to draft California QB Jared Goff.

In addition to Johnson, the Titans drafted Michigan State DT Jack Conklin in the first round; Heisman Trophy winner and Alabama RB Derrick Henry and Clemson DE Kevin Dodd in the second round; and Mid-Tennessee State safety Kevin Byard in the third round.

Johnson, a St. Augustine Prep alum, skipped his final year of eligibility at Penn State to enter the draft.

The 6’4,” 314-pound defensive tackle started every game with the Nittany Lions football team each of the last two seasons, and 28 contests overall in his career. The 2015 All-Big Ten second team selection graduated in December, earning his degree in journalism in just three and a half years.

Johnson was third on the team with 78 tackles this season. His was third among all NCAA Division I FBS defensive tackles in tackles. It was the highest number of tackles from a Penn State defensive lineman since Jimmy Kennedy had 87 in 2002.

He had at least nine tackles in four different games, and was second on the team with 13 tackles for loss.

He also had 6.5 sacks this season.

“We couldn’t be happier for Austin,” Penn State Head Coach James Franklin said in a statement Friday night. “After graduating from Penn State in just three and a half years, he is ready to move to the next level. With his size, strength and great footwork, Austin has the ability to fit a 3-4 or a 4-3 defensive scheme, which not a lot of guys can do. I can see him being a fantastic contributor for the Titans. It’s also great to see him reunited with his good friend and former teammate DaQuan Jones.”

“AJ is a true student of the game with a really high level of intelligence football-wise,” Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer said. “He is a freak athlete. The combination of being 6-4, 315 pounds, moves like a cat with tremendous power at the point of attack and an unbelievable ability to make moves in short quarters makes me believe that his next step is going to be tremendous. He is going to be a great pro and I look forward to the future for AJ.”

Additionally, Johnson registered his first career touchdown with a 71-yard fumble return against San Diego State in a 37-21 win on Sept. 26.

The fumble recovery was the fourth of his career and Penn State’s first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Mike Hull’s 74-yard return vs. Navy in 2012. He tallied a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, at Northwestern. He also had a sack and two tackles for loss against the Wildcats.

For his career, he had 154 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss. He also had four fumble recoveries and five pass breakups in his career.

Johnson was the second South Jersey native drafted in as many days. The New York Giants drafted Eastern Regional alum and Ohio State CB Eli Apple in the first round Thursday night.

Two other Penn State players were drafted on Friday night.

Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg was also selected in the second round, at No. 51 by the New York Jets. The Cleveland Browns selected Penn State DE Carl Nassib in the third round, with the 65th pick.

The attached image of Austin Johnson was previously provided by Penn State University