EDMONTON, Alberta --- Tusculum University running back Mekhai Johnson has signed a professional contract with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League.
Johnson, a 5-11, 220-pound graduate student from Dorchester, Massachusetts, played his lone Tusculum campaign this past fall where he garnered All-South Atlantic Conference honors at both running back and return specialist.
The All-SAC Mountain Division first team running back led the Pioneers in rushing yards (635), rushing touchdowns (8), total touchdowns (9), scoring (54 pts) and all-purpose yards (970). His eight TD carries were sixth in the conference while his 4.9 points per game average was listed 11th in the league. He was 10th in the SAC averaging 88.18 all-purpose yards per game while his rushing yards tally and his 57.7 rushing yards per game average were both sixth in the league.
He ran for a season-high 104 yards on 18 carries at Mars Hill, which included a pair of TD runs. He also finished the season with 10 receptions for 172 yards and a TD catch. His 78-yard TD reception against Emory & Henry is tied for the 14th-longest catch in program history. He also averaged 27.7 yards on his six kickoff returns while posting over 100 all-purpose yards in four games including three in a row from Oct. 22 – Nov. 5.
Prior to Tusculum, Johnson played 33 games at the NCAA Division I school at Marist College where he amassed 2,833 all-purpose yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He rushed for 863 total yards on 159 carries and eight touchdowns, while also hauling in 26 career receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He shined on special teams for the Red Foxes where he amassed 75 career kickoff returns for 1,786 yards (23.81 ypc) and two TD returns over 90 yards. He was a four-time Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week was recognized three times as the NCAA FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
In 2021, he was tabbed the PFL Special Teams Player of the Year as he averaged 23.57 yards per kickoff return. He also earned All-League honors at running back and return specialist.
He helped Tusculum to an 8-3 overall record and a runner-up finish in the SAC Mountain Division.
Johnson becomes the 32nd player in program history to ink a professional football contract.
