ETSU Head Football Coach Will Healy announced the hiring of Kerryon Johnson as the team’s new Running Backs Coach on April 17, 2025. Johnson joins ETSU after spending the past two seasons on staff at North Alabama.
“I’m very excited to join ETSU and work for Coach Healy,” said Johnson. “I heard great things about him from everyone I spoke to, so it was an easy choice to join what he is building here. I would love nothing more than to be a part of this process in taking ETSU football to the next level! It’s not only a beautiful school and location but I also look forward to making Johnson City my home! I promise to do my best work bringing the best out of the running back position and producing great young men in the process…GO BUCS!”
Johnson joined UNA’s coaching staff prior to the 2023 season. At first, he was the Director of Player Development for the Lions before moving to the role of Running Backs Coach for the 2024 campaign.
“I am extremely excited to have Kerryon join our staff,” said Healy. “He had an unbelievable career as a player being named SEC offensive player of the year and was selected in the second round of the NFL draft. He also quickly has established himself as a phenomenal coach, recruiter, and mentor for young men. He has been great for our running backs to learn from and has been a pleasure to work with.”
A native of Huntsville, Johnson was a standout running back at Madison Academy. He rushed for 1,659 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior season, attracting several power conference level programs to recruit him. He went on to become a three-year letterman at Auburn, where he played in 36 career games and rushed 519 times for 2,494 yards and 32 touchdowns. As a junior, Johnson earned the 2017 SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and first team all-conference honors. He ended his career ranked 11th in school history for rushing yards.
After his junior season, Johnson declared for the 2018 NFL Draft where he was selected in the second round (43rd overall) by the Detroit Lions. He was the sixth running back selected in that draft. In his rookie season, Johnson rushed 118 times for 641 yards and three touchdowns, including a long rush of 71 yards. He also caught 32 passes for 213 yards and a score.
He went on to play three seasons with the Lions, then later spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers before deciding to retire.
