Better late than never couldn’t have been more prophetic Saturday for Marshall safety Nazeeh Johnson.
With four picks remaining in the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson came off the board as a seventh-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs. The No. 259 overall pick in the draft, Johnson was the final defensive player picked.
It marked the third straight year Marshall has had at least one player drafted.
Johnson was an honorable mention All Conference USA pick in 2021 after being in on 67 tackles, 43 of which were solo stops. Along with intercepting two passes, Johnson had five pass breakups.
The 5-foot-10, 199-pound Johnson is a native of Martinsburg who starred at Millbrook High in Virginia, less than a half hour south from Martinsburg.
He began his lengthy and successful Marshall career with a redshirt season in 2016. Johnson was a key contributor in 2017 and 2018, before becoming a full-time starter in 2019 — a role he held each of his last three seasons with the Herd.
Johnson helped his cause with an impressive showing at Marshall’s Pro Day. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and displayed a 42-inch vertical leap.
Johnson was Mashall’s lone selection in the draft, though Herd offensive lineman Alex Mollette signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.
Mollette started the final 36 games he played in Marshall uniform. As a guard in 2020, he was a second-team all-Conference USA selection. Mollette then transitioned to play center in his final season at Marshall and worked his way up to being an all-league first-team pick.