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Goal No. 13: EXPECT TO WIN. And truly believe we will.
#13 Chase Johnston
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-3 | 231 lbs. | Carl Junction, Missouri
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- Position: Linebacker
- Previous College: None
- Projection: Second-String
- Status: On Scholarship
Andrew Chase Johnston (b. Sept. 30, 1996) is an athletic and hard-hitting linebacker who spent the 2016 season at fullback and now will compete for playing time in the linebacker rotation while adding support on special teams.
Johnston used the 2015 season to redshirt and develop. It paid off when he earned the program’s Overachiever Award as the top freshman in strength and conditioning. He played in all 13 games on both special teams and at fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Johnston made six tackles on kickoff coverage, including a season-high two at TCU, and helped the Wildcats to rank sixth nationally in rushing touchdowns. He also was a second-team Academic All-Big 12 performer.
A four-year letter-winner for Carl Junction High School under head coach Doug Buckmaster, Johnston helped the Bulldogs to earn an 11-1 record and reach the third round of the Missouri Class 4 playoffs in 2014.
He was regarded as the 39th-best inside linebacker nationally by ESPN and the 47th best by Scout, including the top middle linebacker in the state of Missouri. Rivals had him ranked 15th in Missouri.
Designated a first-team All-Missouri Class 4 linebacker by the state’s coaches, as well as the Missouri media association, Johnston also was named to the American Family Insurance All-USA Missouri Team. He was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to earning all-league and all-district honors.
Johnston carded 100 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks, as a senior.
He also was a first-team all-state honoree in the shot put and lettered three years in basketball.
Johnston’s father, Vince, played wide receiver at Pittsburg State University, while his grandfather, Nelson Toburen, played linebacker at Wichita State University, and later for the 1961 and 1962 NFL Champion Green Bay Packers.