Jamaal Johnson, Northwestern DL: the 2026 season story
Jamaal Johnson is a senior defensive lineman for Northwestern (Big Ten). He ranks 624th of 1,709 defensive linemen in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive lineman on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Jamaal Johnson's strongest measure is passes defended per game at 0.25, 83rd of 892 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is tackles for loss per game at 0.15, 724th of 892 (the average is 0.40).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His tackles per game, 1.9, ranks 666th among 892 ranked defensive linemen.
Against every defensive lineman
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive lineman he is. Among ranked defensive linemen he sits, on average, in the 25th percentile for volume and 63rd for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, Jamaal Johnson's best came in week 4 at Indiana and his quietest in week 1 against South Dakota State.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Jamaal Johnson is 416th of 892 FBS defensive linemen and 53rd of 117 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Jimmy Wyrick of SMU, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Defensive linemen like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Duncan Parham of East Texas A&M.
