Johnson played
college football at
West Virginia University in 1985 and played backup his freshman season, behind
John Holifield. Johnson rushed for 257 yards and a touchdown that season. In the 1986 season, Johnson's sophomore year, he beat out Holifield for the
starting job at running back. He rushed for a team-high 652 yards and five touchdowns that season, as the Mountaineers went 4–7. As a junior in 1987, Johnson played backup again, this time to
A. B. Brown. Johnson and the Mountaineers, led by the freshman star
Major Harris at
quarterback, went 6–6. Johnson rushed for 593 yards and four touchdowns that season, behind Brown's 1,000 yards. In Johnson's final season as a Mountaineer, 1988, the team went undefeated for the first time in school history. Johnson shared time at
halfback with Brown. Johnson was again second on the team rushing to Brown, this time with 709 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. ==Professional career==