Welcome to the 2019 FCS Kickoff Jersey Countdown.
The regular season begins Saturday, Aug. 24 with Samford vs. Youngstown State in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff along with Villanova playing at Colgate.
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- FCS Home
- The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
- Preseason Top 25 Poll
- Preseason All-American Teams
- Team By Team & Conference Previews
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HERO Sports is going to count down each day by highlighting the best player in the FCS who wears the jersey number equal to the number of days until kickoff. You can find the running list of top players here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are from the 2018 season.
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59: Desmond Johnson Jr., DL (Sr.) — Kennesaw State
Rarely will you find a four-time First Team All-Conference player in college football, but Johnson has an opportunity to accomplish that with another big season. He's earned that Big South Conference honor in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
We at HERO Sports had a feeling this guy could be special, naming him a Freshman All-American in 2016 and a 2017 Sophomore All-American.
Johnson has put up some impressive numbers throughout his career:
- 2016: 38 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6 sacks
- 2017: 36 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, 9 QB hurries
- 2018: 33 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 QB hurry
Kennesaw allowed just 15.4 points per game in 2018, ranking seventh in the FCS. The Owls have several starters returning on that side of the ball with Johnson one of the standouts on the stingy unit.
Desmond Johnson #59 of Kennesaw 2015 Rome Wolf! 2015 Basketball sub region POY and Rome Area basketball Co-POY! pic.twitter.com/JAVYCeupq3
— Milt Travis (@TravisMilt) September 17, 2018
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