EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings selected Iowa defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson with the 109th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft on Saturday morning.
Johnson, a fourth-round selection, is 6-foot-3 and 316 pounds.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest defensive lineman:
1. A strong finish
Johnson ended his Iowa career on a high note as a fifth-year senior. He started all 13 games and recorded 55 total tackles with 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Johnson was a First-Team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection by the media.
2. Plenty of experience
Johnson played in 47 career games at Iowa. He recorded 112 total tackles (53 solo) with 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
Johnson also tallied11 quarterback hurries, three passes defended, a fumble recovery and a safety in his college career.
3. Adding to the room
Johnson joins a pair of other fourth-round picks along the defensive line. Defensive end Brian Robison was the 102nd overall selection in 2007, and fellow defensive end Everson Griffen was the 100th overall pick in 2010.
Robison and Griffen have combined to play in 264 total games with 104 career sacks between them.
4. Another Hawkeye
Johnson is now the third player from Iowa on the Vikings roster, joining tackle Riley Reiff and kicker Marshall Koehn.
Johnson was also drafted 11 years to the day of former Vikings (and Hawkeyes linebacker) Chad Greenway, who retired in March.
View images of Vikings new DT Jaleel Johnson from his days at Iowa.
5. High school history
Johnson attended St. Joseph's High School (Illinois) for three years before transferring to Montini Catholic as a senior. He was a First-Team All-State selection as a senior and helped his team win a state title to cap his high school career.
Johnson was also a heavyweight wrestler who was in the 285-pound weight class. Johnson said he was 21-3 during his junior season.
