Georgia great Charles Johnson recalls incredible story from day he was drafted into the NFL

Georgia football and Carolina Panthers great Charles Johnson recalled the remarkable story of the day he was drafted into the NFL.

Georgia great Charles Johnson was a punishing defensive end for the Carolina Panthers for 11 seasons. From 2007 to 2017, Johnson racked up 67.5 sacks, which ranks second all-time in Panthers history.

Before that, he was a Georgia Bulldog, and remains one to this day, still often seen sporting the red & black.

At Georgia, Johnson burst onto the scene his junior season after a solid sophomore year. During his third year, though, he was an absolute star, recording 9.5 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss. He also added 4 career forced fumbles and 1 touchdown in 2005.

When his career at Georgia came to an end, Johnson began preparing himself for the next level. When draft day finally arrived, Johnson threw a party at Hawksinville High School, his alma mater in the small Georgia town.

Via an Instagram post on Thursday, Johnson recalled the crazy story of how his NFL career began on draft day.

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True story…… on my draft day I had a party plan at my high school. I watch the first round go bye at my high school with news crews, family and everybody who came. Start of the second round I was sitting alone looking at my phone and a unknown man came and sat beside me. It was my dad who had nothing to do with me as a kid or was never in my life. ( real Ricky Bobby ish 😂 ) I left the party at the high school and watch the rest of the second round at home. We had 20 cases of Don P and 20 case of Ace of spade and we was on the verge of leaving and going to the club. 🤦🏿‍♂️ I turnt my phone off near the end of second round because I figure I wouldn’t get drafted after that. Literally walking out the, door tv is on, and I had one foot out the door, my best friend for life stop me @kidfromwrens and said let’s watch this pick before we leave. Boom 💥 my name pops across the screen! And so my career being!!!! Crazy ain’t it! So for every South Georgia small town kid who get drafted I salute you. Live it up, stay consistent, never forget where you came from and what motivated you to get to this point today 💙🖤💙🖤

A post shared by Charles Johnson 🖤❤️ (@cjgeorgia99) on

He remembers the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft coming and going without his name being called. He recalls the news crews, family and friends being there at his high school. But he also recalls his father, who Johnson wrote ‘had nothing to do with me as a kid.’ In his Instgram post, Johnson said that his father came and sat next to him. He was an “unknown man,” Johnson described.

If you remember, the draft used to be a two day affair. Rounds 1-3 were held on Saturday and 4-7 on Sunday.

Johnson wrote that he left his high school draft party sometime in the second round to watch the rest of it at home. His name still had not been called, so Johnson decided to turn his phone off.

“I turned my phone off near the end of the second round because I figured I wouldn’t get drafted after that,” he wrote.

Johnson, growing discouraged, was ready to leave to go to the club. With one foot out the door, his childhood friend said they should wait and watch one more pick.

It turned out to be a great decision. Charles Johnson’s name appeared on the screen. He had been selected with the 83rd overall pick by the Panthers.

“So for every south Georgia small town kid who gets drafted I salute you. Live it up, stay consistent, never forget where you came from and what motivated you to get to this point today.”

Oh, and the scoreboard at Hawkinsville’s football stadium, where Johnson’s career began, now reads “Home of Charles Johnson.”