[2] Johnson played defensive back[3]/wingback at Grambling State University for legendary coach Eddie Robinson.
By his final season in 1967 he had helped lead the team to three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles.
[4] He scored two touchdowns in Grambling's 1967 Orange Blossom Classic win over Florida A&M.
In the fourth quarter, he had a 35-yard touchdown run through the middle[8] as the Bengals downed the Denver Broncos, 24-10.
[1] In 1972, Johnson earned his nickname "The Essex Express" as he had a breakout year as the Bengals' featured running back, starting 11 games.
[1] In 1973, he started all 14 games and finished just shy of the 1,000-yard mark with a career-best 997 yards in 195 attempts (a 5.1 average) and four touchdowns.
After the game, future hall of fame defensive end Deacon Jones said only O.J.
[14] His son, Essex Johnson, was a star defensive end at Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles where, as a junior, he recorded 96 tackles and eight sacks.