After struggling to acclimate to major college life in 2006, a humbled Johnson rededicated himself during the offseason before his senior campaign. When injuries took away two of the Wildcats' top offensive weapons in tailback Rafael Little and receiver Keenan Burton for long stretches of the 2007 season, Johnson was more than ready to fill that void.

Starting 10 of 13 games while seeing action at split end, flanker and in the slot, Johnson became just the fourth player in school history to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season. His 13 touchdown catches were one shy of the school single-season record.

He also produced game-winning scoring grabs in three of the school's most memorable comebacks, snatching a 57-yarder with 0:28 left in a 40-34 victory over Louisville; catching a 7-yarder in triple overtime to give UK a 43-37 win over LSU and closing out his career with a 38-yard fourth-quarter grab in a 35-28 triumph over Florida State in the Music City Bowl.

Attending Rodriguez High School, Johnson only played two years of football, as the school did not add a football program until his junior year. He started at running back as a junior and quarterback as a senior, in addition to playing safety, linebacker and end on defense. He earned All-State and first-team All-Conference honors and was named Most Valuable Player of the East-West Shrine All-Star Game following his senior season. He also played two years of basketball and was second-team All-Conference.

Johnson enrolled at Chabot College in 2004, where he started every game during his two-year career. As a freshman, he caught 32 passes for 607 yards (19.0 avg) and six touchdowns, earning second-team All-Golden Gate Conference honors, as he helped lead Chabot to the league championship.

In 2005, Johnson caught 73 passes for 1,060 yards (14.5 avg) and 12 touchdowns, as he ranked fourth in receptions and receiving yards per game among California's 72 junior colleges. He earned first-team All-Region honors and was named California Player of the Week vs. Merced College.

"Steve is a tremendous athlete and a hard worker," Chabot head coach Dan Calcagno said. "He's the kind of person who has a goal, gets his mind set on it, and does it."

He would finish his Chabot College career with 1,667 yards and 18 touchdowns on 105 receptions (15.88 avg).

Johnson turned down scholarship offers from Marshall, Wyoming and Washington State to enroll at Kentucky in 2005. It was a tough time for him to adjust to major college life, putting him in the coach's doghouse for his work ethic. He managed to catch only 12 passes for 159 yards (13.2 avg) and one touchdown in 13 games of limited action as a junior.

With his improved work ethic, Johnson earned 10 starting assignments in 2007, earning All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors, in addition to being named the team's Most Improve Player by the coaching staff. He ranked second in the league with an average of 80.8 yards per game receiving. He snatched 60 passes for 1,041 yards (17.4 avg) and 13 touchdowns.

In 26 games at Kentucky, Johnson started 10 times. He hauled in 72 passes for 1,200 yards (16.67 avg). Fourteen of those catches resulted in touchdowns. He also recorded one solo tackle.

Positives: Has a tall frame that could add additional bulk without loss in quickness … Not muscular, but has just 4.9 percent body fat … Has the size to be an inviting target for a quarterback over the middle, but needs to get stronger in order to defeat the press … Bit of a long strider who lacks blazing speed, but has the short-area burst to escape when working underneath (can be caught from behind on long patterns, though) … Showed improvement with his leaping and timing to compete for jump balls … Lacks natural hands, but shows good extension making the over-the-shoulder grabs … .When he stays low in his pads, he is more effective at making route adjustments (stiff in his hips, though) … Shields the ball well from defenders and has good courage going over the middle, showing no flinch before the crunching hit … Has decent double moves vs. second-level defenders, but needs to execute them better vs. the speedier defensive backs … Better cut blocker than one at the line of scrimmage, as he is quite effective at taking out the feet of second-level defenders … Can catch and run without having to throttle down (will have to build up his acceleration when he stops before making the catch, though) … Has the long arms to reach up and over the defender to high point the ball … Seems more comfortable running hitches and stop routes (best on routes that warrant little separation) … Even though his hips are tight, he can torque his body in-stride or in mid-air when he needs to … Better as a straight-line runner, as he lacks change of direction agility to elude.

Negatives: Has a big frame with minimal body fat, but lacks ideal muscle definition (more big-boned than well developed) … Has a good straight-line burst, but lacks the suddenness off the snap or timed speed to consistently attack the seam or challenge the deep coverage defenders … Needs to improve his hip snap, as he looks stiff moving in and out of his breaks … Had good production in 2007, but uses his body a lot as a crutch and lacks natural hands … Needs to be monitored in the offseason training program (does what is asked, nothing more) … His long stride and high pad level in his running stride prevents him from coming out of his cuts crisply … Needs to demonstrate a better feel for route progression (gathers a bit and takes soft angle cuts) … Has to work to build to top speed and generally is slow gathering at the point … Will drop as many easily catchable balls as he will get to the tough throws … Needs to show a stronger hand punch to combat the press and get into his routes with better urgency … Rigid in his moves and it is rare to see him generate explosion to separate after the catch … Has marginal feel for the sidelines and needs to improve his balance and footwork along the sidelines … Just an adequate cut blocker, as he has poor ability to take angles … Does not relish blocking in-line … Has a problem shifting gears without taking false steps and is not always alert to pocket pressure and is late at times working back to the ball … For a player of his size, he gets rerouted too much and needs to be more active with his hands to escape the jam … Needs route technique work, as he is not fluid in his patterns and drifts too much on long runs … Needs more than several reps to retain plays.

Compares To: TRAVIS TAYLOR-Carolina … Johnson seems to be maturing, both on and off the field, but still needs to develop better training habits. For a big receiver, he gets jammed by defensive backs too often, and despite his good timed speed he lacks explosive acceleration to consistently challenge the deep third of the field. He will make a sensational catch one second and drop an easy throw the next. If he continues to mature and learns how to run routes better, he could be a decent slot receiver. But without blazing speed or a sudden burst, combined with stiff hips, he is going to be limited more to just working on controlled routes rather than stretching the field.

2003: Missed one game during his high school senior year with a left knee medial collateral ligament sprain.

Campus: 4.51 in the 40-yard dash … 1.49 10-yard dash … 2.56 20-yard dash … 275-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds six times … 450-pound squat … 265-pound power clean … 36-inch vertical jump … 32 ¾-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 17/30 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 4.59 in the 40-yard dash … 1.59 10-yard dash … 2.62 20-yard dash … 32 ½-inch vertical jump … 10'1" broad jump … 4.26 20-yard shuttle … 11.61 60-yard shuttle … 7.07 three cone drill.

Attended Angelo Rodriguez (Fairfield, Ca.) High School, playing football for head coach Ken Nadeau … Only played two years of football, as the school did not add a football program until his junior year … Started at running back as a junior and quarterback as a senior, in addition to playing safety, linebacker and end on defense … Earned All-State and first-team All-Conference honors and was named Most Valuable Player of the East-West Shrine All-Star Game following his senior season … Also played two years of basketball and was second-team All-Conference.

Sociology major … Cousin, Marquise Lewis, played football at Kentucky State … Son of Steve Johnson Sr. and Andre and Rhonda Lewis … Born 7/22/86 in San Francisco, California.