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LAS VEGAS – Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson was selected with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, becoming the 21st first-round pick in school history.
Johnson is the 10th Boston College offensive lineman to be selected in the first round and the first since Chris Lindstrom went 14th overall to the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. BC’s 10 all-time first-round draft picks on the offensive line lead all schools in the ACC, followed by Virginia Tech (7), Pitt (6), Virginia (6), and Miami (5).
Johnson was named to seven All-America teams following the 2021 season, selected by the AFCA, Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Pro Football Focus, Reese’s Senior Bowl, and Walter Camp Foundation. He was also voted as the Practice Player of the Week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Johnson was named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy for the second year in a row and a semifinalist for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award.
Following the 2021 season, the Maryland native earned All-ACC accolades for the third time in his three-year BC career and for the first time secured an All-ACC First Team selection. Johnson allowed zero pressures in 2021 according to ESPN’s advanced statistics and just one sack in 2,288 career snaps at BC. ESPN listed Johnson with just four blown blocks in 756 snaps last season.
A transfer from Davidson, Johnson started for two seasons with the Wildcats and earned all-conference honors as a sophomore in 2018. He was immediately eligible at BC as a junior in 2019 and earned All-ACC Second Team honors despite only ascending to the starting left guard position in week seven. Johnson played at left tackle in 2020 and made the All-ACC Third Team, playing 783 of the offense’s 785 snaps on the season.
Johnson is the first Eagle to be drafted by the Chargers since defensive back DeJuan Tribble in 2008. He is the 221st player in Boston College history to be selected in the NFL or AFL Draft. Since 1980, Boston College had at least one player drafted every year except 2005 and 2013.
BOSTON COLLEGE’S FIRST-ROUND NFL DRAFT PICKS
| Player | Position | Year (Pick) | Team |
| Zion Johnson | OL | 2022 (17) | LA Chargers |
| Chris Lindstrom | OL | 2019 (14) | Atlanta |
| Luke Kuechly | LB | 2012 (9) | Carolina |
| Anthony Castonzo | OL | 2011 (22) | Indianapolis |
| BJ Raji | DL | 2009 (9) | Green Bay |
| Matt Ryan | QB | 2008 (3) | Atlanta |
| Gosder Cherilus | OL | 2008 (17) | Detroit |
| Mathias Kiwanuka | DL | 2006 (32) | NY Giants |
| William Green | RB | 2002 (16) | Cleveland |
| Marc Colombo | OL | 2002 (29) | Dallas |
| Chris Hovan | DL | 2000 (25) | Minnesota |
| Damien Woody | OL | 1999 (17) | New England |
| Pete Kendall | OL | 1996 (21) | Seattle |
| Mike Mamula | LB | 1995 (7) | Philadelphia |
| Joe Wolf | OL | 1989 (17) | Phoenix |
| John Bosa | DL | 1987 (16) | Miami |
| Steve Schindler | OL | 1977 (18) | Denver |
| Bill Thomas | RB | 1972 (26) | Dallas |
| Bob Hyland | OL | 1967 (9) | Green Bay |
| Don Allard | QB | 1959 (4) | Washington |
| Mike Holovak | B | 1943 (5) | LA Rams |
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