TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona defensive lineman PJ Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 15th pick of the seventh round of the 2019 National Football League Draft. Johnson was the 229th overall pick in the three-day draft, which concluded Saturday.

Johnson was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection in 2018 when he played in 10 games with nine starts for the Wildcats' defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 335-pounder totaled 31 tackles, including 22 solo stops, with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks. He added one pass breakup, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and registered a safety in the Territorial Cup against Arizona State.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Johnson transferred to Arizona in 2018 after playing at City College of San Francisco in 2016-17. Johnson's impact was significant for the Wildcats, who held opponents to 4.2 yards per carry, the lowest clip since 2014 (4.1). Arizona's scoring defense of 32.6 points per game last season was also the lowest mark since 2014 (28.2).

In addition to Johnson's success on the field, the sociology major was presented with the program's Academic Excellence Award at the end of the season. The honor was selected by the C.A.T.S. Academics staff.

Johnson is the first Wildcat drafted by the Lions since linebacker Zeno Alexander was picked in the 12th round of the 1991 draft. This year marks the third time in four drafts in which at least one Wildcat defender has been selected, following Dane Cruikshank in 2018 (Tennessee Titans) and Will Parks (Denver Broncos) and Scooby Wright III (Cleveland Browns) in 2016.