Johnson won the 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put Championship, and was also named a Rhodes Scholar in 2006 on behalf of the United States.

He attended FSU, graduating magna cum laude in three years with a double major in Political Science and English.

Johnson was named an academic All-American in 2005 and 2006 and earned the Florida State Golden Torch Award given to the FSU student-athlete with the highest GPA.

Johnson completed a master's degree in migration studies as a 2006 Rhodes Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford University.

Johnson was a finalist in the 2008 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials, but failed to post a mark, fouling on all attempts.