With his bloodlines and connection to Ohio State, it was almost a certainty that Johnson would attend the university after graduating from high school. His father, Thomas "Pepper" Johnson, was a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes before embarking on a professional career with the New York Giants and New England. Pepper is now an assistant coach for the Patriots. Keith Byars, Dionte's godfather, also had a storied career at OSU, where he was a Heisman Trophy tailback.

Johnson earned first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior at Eastmoor Academy. He played center as a junior before being switched to fullback for his final season. He won the Columbus city wrestling championship as a junior at the 215-pound weight class. He also played catcher on the baseball team as a freshman, junior and senior. In addition, he ran track as a junior and was a member of the 4x100 relay team that won a regional title.

Johnson enrolled at Ohio State in 2004, playing on the scout team for the first six games before he was pressed into action at fullback for five contests. He caught two passes for 5 yards and rushed four times for 10 yards.

The Buckeye then spent his next two seasons playing on special teams, mostly with the field goal/PAT unit. He did not register any statistics from 2005-06. With Stan White Jr. having graduated, Johnson appeared in short-yardage and goal-line situations at fullback in 2007, starting six of 13 games. He had just one rushing attempt for the season, but it was for a 1-yard loss.

Positives: Has a short, compact build, but shows solid upper body muscle development with thick chest, neck and arm muscles, thick thighs and tapered calves … Used mostly on special teams and in short-yardage situations, showing adequate ability as a positional-type of blocker … Team captain with very good work ethic in the training room … Stays low in his pads and is quick coming out of his stance, showing good power and leg drive through the holes … Effective route runner who makes crisp moves in and out of his cuts … Makes proper body adjustments getting through the holes in attempts to widen the rushing lane for the tailback … Intelligent athlete who has no problem digesting a complicated playbook … Runs with good balance, doing a nice job of picking his feet over trash … Has the body control to take proper angles in attempts to neutralize second-level defenders … Comes out of his stance at a low pad level and is quick to locate defenders on the move … Generates good shock and jolt with his hands and does a good job of squaring his shoulders and driving with his legs through arm tackles … Lacks lateral agility, but has a good short-area burst on straight-line runs.

Negatives: Strictly a North-South runner with no hip swerve or shake to elude, on the rare chances he gets to carry the ball … Good short-area blocker, but will sometimes over-extend and fall off his hits in the open field … Tight in his hips when trying to change direction … Has a strong hand punch, but gets pushed back through the rush lane when he lets defenders attack his body (hands get outside his frame, at times) … Marginal route runner whose upper body tightness causes him to struggle when having to turn and position for the thrown ball … Needs to anchor better vs. the blitz, as strong middle linebackers can stone him (also needs to play with a search-and-destroy attitude).

Compares To: TERRELLE SMITH-Arizona … Outside of special teams and as a lead blocker in short-yardage situations, Johnson brings little value to the table. He has touched the ball only seven times in 42 games and while he is an efficient position blocker, he is not relentless. He can be walked back through the rush lanes by bigger, stronger middle linebackers and lacks natural hands to be a capably safety valve on third-down passing situations. He might get into camp due to his father, but he really needs to step it up as a blocker in order to hope for a final roster spot.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.71 in the 40-yard dash … 380-pound bench press … 560-poundf squat … 285-pound hang clean … 33 ½-inch vertical jump … 32 ½-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … Right-handed.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Eastmoor (Columbus, Oh.) Academy, playing football for head coach Jim Miranda … Earned first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior … Played center as a junior before being switched to fullback for his final season … Won the Columbus city wrestling championship as a junior at the 215-pound weight class … Also played catcher on the baseball team as a freshman, junior and senior … Ran track as a junior and was a member of the 4x100 relay team that won a regional title.

Business Marketing major … Son of Thomas "Pepper" Johnson and Monica Hawkins … His father is an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, having starred as a linebacker at Ohio State before playing professionally with the New York Giants and New England … His godfather is former Buckeye All-American and Heisman Trophy winner, Keith Byars … Born 6/28/86 … Resides in Columbus, Ohio.