Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame
Defensive end Brian Johnston played college football more than 2,300 miles from his home in San Diego, Calif., and spent four seasons making the most of his time on the east coast. After one productive season at outside linebacker in 2004, Johnston's career took off when he moved to defensive end as a sophomore. He led the Big South with 5.0 sacks in 2005 and posted 12.5 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Conference honors in the process. Johnston improved once again in 2006, earning second-team Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after finishing with 77 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 11 games. Prior to his senior season, Johnston was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List. He responded with 74 total tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and 23 quarterback pressures to earn consensus Division I FCS All-America honors and Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Johnston finished his career with 296 tackles, a school-record 53.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 69 quarterback pressures. His 20.5 career sacks remain in the top-10 in school history and his overall tackles are the most ever by a defensive lineman at Gardner-Webb. Johnston went on to record two sacks in the 2008 Hula Bowl and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in nine games as a rookie in 2008.
