Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach / Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line
- Email:
- majmwf@missouri.edu
- Phone:
- 882-2214
Marcus Johnson joined Mizzou’s staff in January, 2020 as offensive line coach. In May, 2021, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz promoted Johnson to Assistant Head Coach and Run Game Coordinator while continuing to oversee the offensive line.
In 2021, Johnson orchestrated a rushing attack which averaged 179.8 yards per game and reached the endzone 22 times. Running back Tyler Badie set the school record with 1,604 yards on the season, including five 200-yard games. The offensive line ranked third in the SEC and 20th nationally in allowing just 1.38 sacks per game. Center Michael Maietti was named All-SEC by three publications and tabbed a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.
In 2020, Mizzou's offense rushed for 135.2 yards per game and 21 touchdowns. In the air, the Tigers averaged 266.8 yards per game with nine scores. The offensive line unit ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference (behind Texas A&M, Alabama and Kentucky) and 30th nationally in sacks per game with 1.60.
Senior running back Larry Rountree III ended the season ranked fourth among active FBS rushers with 972 yards and 15 scores. Senior right tackle Larry Borom started eight games for the Tigers in 2020 and was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He became Mizzou's first offensive lineman drafted since 2016.
Johnson arrived in Columbia after spending four seasons coaching the offensive lines at Mississippi State (2018-19) and Duke (2016-17).
During his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs won 14 games overall, and played in the 2018 Outback Bowl and the 2019 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. His offensive line paved the way for first-team All-SEC running back Kylin Hill to rank second in the league and 16th nationally in 2019 with 1,350 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, while the Bulldogs' rushing attack ranked third in the SEC and 21st nationally, averaging 220.6 yards per game.
Johnson's first season at MSU was also a successful one as his line helped the offense rank second in the SEC in both rushing yards per game (223.6) and yards per rush (5.7). Anchored by center Elgton Jenkins, the 44th overall pick by Green Bay in the 2019 NFL Draft, the offensive line helped State rush for 300 or more yards in an SEC-best four games. Jenkins earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic and fourth-team honors from Phil Steele.
Also under Johnson's guidance, Deion Calhoun had a standout senior season in 2018, earning second-team All-SEC honors from the league's coaches. Calhoun allowed only two sacks over 356 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, and signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent.
Johnson began his coaching career at Duke for his college coach David Cutcliffe, serving various roles over a seven-year period (2011-17) that saw the Blue Devils make five bowl appearances. Duke had not appeared in a bowl game since 1995.
After beginning at Duke as an assistant strength and conditioning coach (2011-12), he broke into the coaching side in 2013 as an offensive quality control assistant. That year, Duke finished 10-4, winning the ACC's Coastal Division and finishing as the first Blue Devil team in 52 years to end a season ranked in the Associated Press poll (No. 23 final ranking).
Johnson spent three years in the quality control role at Duke before being promoted to offensive line coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. During the 2017 campaign, Johnson worked with third-team All-ACC center Austin Davis, who was also one of four team-elected captains.
Johnson's offensive line opened holes for Duke to have two 200-200 performances as the Blue Devils reached the Quick Lane Bowl. Off the field, Johnson oversaw the selection of offensive tackle Gabe Brandner to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as well as being a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy and Wuerffel Award. In 2016, Johnson oversaw an offensive front that allowed time and space for four 200-200 performances during the season.
During Johnson's three campaigns with the Blue Devil offense in the capacity of quality control, Duke won 27 games, captured the 2013 ACC Coastal Division championship and appeared in three bowl games. Working alongside veteran line coach John Latina, Johnson helped guide seven All-ACC picks including Casey Blaser, Takoby Cofield, Dave Harding, Lucas Patrick, Perry Simmons, Matt Skura and Laken Tomlinson.
Duke went 8-5 with a victory over Indiana in the 2015 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and the Blue Devils joined Clemson and North Carolina as the only three squads to rank among the conference's top five in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and scoring offense. Blaser, Patrick and Skura each garnered All-ACC honors.
In 2013, Duke ranked among ACC leaders in scoring (fifth; 32.8 avg.), total offense (fourth; 426.1 avg.), rushing offense (fifth; 178.0 avg.) and passing offense (sixth; 248.1 avg.).
On its way to the ACC Coastal Division championship, the Blue Devils set a school record for total points (459) while becoming the first team in school history to post at least 25 rushing touchdowns and 25 passing touchdowns in the same season.
A standout offensive lineman in his playing days at Ole Miss (2001-04), Johnson earned second-team All-SEC honors as a senior co-captain under Cutcliffe. He helped the Rebels to 28 wins over four years and a pair of bowl game appearances. After earning second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press as a senior, Johnson represented Ole Miss at the 2004 Senior Bowl.
He was a second-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by Minnesota, and spent four seasons (2005-08) there, helping the Vikings to a division title and playoff berth in 2008. After spending the 2009 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he closed his playing career with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.
Johnson graduated from Ole Miss in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice while minoring in sociology. He and his wife, Veullana, are the parents of London, Meraki and Violette.
