Mark Johnson, Valparaiso DB: the 2026 season story
Mark Johnson is a senior defensive back for Valparaiso (Pioneer). He ranks 812th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Mark Johnson's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.13, 218th of 921 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is passes defended per game at 0.06, 794th of 921 (the average is 0.31).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 4.4, ranks 261st among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 72nd percentile for volume, 42nd for efficiency and 46th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 8 games, Mark Johnson's best came in week 6 against Drake and his quietest in week 5 at Morehead State.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Mark Johnson is 310th of 920 FCS defensive backs and 21st of 77 in the Pioneer. Next up nationally is Vinny Pierre Jr. of Southern Illinois, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Andre DePina-Gray of Rhode Island.
