Delano Johnson facts for kids

Delano Johnson, born on January 13, 1988, is a former American football player. He played as a defensive end, which is a position on the defense that tries to tackle the opposing team's quarterback or stop their running backs. Delano played college football at Bowie State University. He also played for several professional teams, including the Houston Texans, Toronto Argonauts, Portland Thunder/Steel, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Early Life and High School Sports

Delano Johnson grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Delano was a talented athlete in high school.

Football Achievements

In 2005, he earned "All-Met Second Team" honors for his skills in football. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the Baltimore area.

Basketball Achievements

The next year, in 2006, he received "All-Met First Team" honors for basketball. He actually started playing football only in his junior year of high school.

College Career at Bowie State

Delano Johnson played football for the Bowie State Bulldogs. He was on the team from 2007 to 2011. He was a very active player on the field.

Key Statistics and Records

During his college career, Delano made 219 tackles. He also caught six interceptions and broke up twenty passes. He forced five fumbles and recovered six fumbles. He also had five sacks, which means he tackled the opposing quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

In 2010, Delano set a school record. He blocked seven kicks and punts in one season. He also holds the school record for blocking the most kicks and punts in his entire college career, with eleven.

Beyond Football

In his senior year, Delano played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. This is a special game where college players show off their skills for professional teams. He also played basketball for Bowie State during his first two years. Delano studied pedology at Bowie State, which is the study of children.

Professional Football Journey

After college, Delano Johnson began his professional football career. He played for teams in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Time with the Houston Texans

Delano signed with the Houston Texans on April 30, 2012. He had not been chosen in the NFL draft that year. He was released by the Texans on August 31, 2012. However, he joined their practice squad the very next day. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was released by the Texans again on August 30, 2013.

Playing for the Toronto Argonauts

In 2014, Delano played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. He started in all ten games he played. He made 13 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle. He also had one sack and forced one fumble. In 2015, he played in two games for the Argonauts. He was released by the team on July 31, 2015.

Short Stint in Arena Football

Delano was assigned to the Portland Thunder on November 5, 2015. This team played in the Arena Football League (AFL). In February 2016, the team changed its name to the Portland Steel.

With the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Delano signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on April 18, 2016. This is another team in the CFL. He was released by the Tiger-Cats on May 16, 2017.

Life After Football

Delano Johnson continues to be active in his community. He enjoys helping young people.

Mentoring and Business

Delano spends time mentoring children. He helps guide them and offers advice. He also owns a barbershop called FINAO LOVE. The name FINAO stands for "Failure Is Not An Option, Living Our Vision Every Day."

Family Life

Delano's mom passed away during his freshman year in college.