Former Colonel Jake Johnson returned to EKU in December 2019 as the program’s defensive coordinator. Johnson previously spent 12 seasons (2004-15) on the Colonel coaching staff, including the final 11 as the defensive line coach.
2024 was a standout year for the Eastern Kentucky University defense as they only allowed 23.7 points per game, the best in the UAC, going 8-5 on the season, returning to the FCS Playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
The defense was spearheaded by captain and All-American defensive back Mike Smith Jr., who ended the season tied for the most interceptions in the UAC with four and was rated the 10th best safety in all of Division I football by Pro Football Focus.
His impressive final season in Maroon and White saw him earn unanimous First Team All-UAC honors along with All-American honors from four separate publications as the Jacksonville, Fla. native earned first team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and AFCA, third team by FCS Central, and fourth team by Phil Steele.
The impressive play earned Smith an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
The EKU defense had four players named to the UAC’s All-Conference team in Smith, Darrian Baker, Jaheim Ward, and Maddox Marcellus.
In 2023, the Colonel defense was led by linebacker and NAIA graduate transfer Logan Blake. Blake earned first-team All-UAC honors after finishing with the third most total tackles in all of FCS (132), and a critical interception in 2OT against Tarleton State on homecoming, setting EKU up for a 41-35 win.
Defensive back Mike Smith Jr., tied for the most passes defended in the UAC with a total of 13 (11 breakups and two interceptions).
Johnson’s defense came up clutch in week four of the season against No. 16 SEMO as lineman Jeremiah Bailey stripped the Redhawks' quarterback at their 28-yard line that was recovered by Darius Sterling setting up kicker Patrick Nations with a game-winning field goal as time expired.
The next week the defense had one of their best statistical games of the season recording five sacks, two recovered fumbles, and two interceptions including one by defensive lineman Gabe Fletcher on a deflection by Jeremiah Bailey.
The defense added their stamp to the final game of the season against Stephen F. Austin as Maddox Marcellus recorded a strip sack that landed in Bailey's hands, returning the fumble 43 yards for the touchdown giving EKU a 13-3 lead, going on to win 36-24.
In his third season at EKU, two Colonel defenders were named to the All-ASUN team and linebacker Matthew Jackson was tabbed as a Fourth-Team Phil Steele/DraftScout All-American. EKU held No. 15 Southeast Missouri to 10 points in the second half of a comeback victory and limited Central Arkansas to its lowest point total against an FCS opponent of the season.
Jackson ranked third in the ASUN with 87 total tackles, while defensive lineman TK McLendon finished the season third in the conference with six sacks.
In 2021, the Colonel defense ranked fourth nationally in defensive touchdowns and 15th in red-zone defense, allowing opponents to score just 10.1 points per game in the second half. Cornerback Davion Ross was a consensus All-American, the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, and three EKU defenders were named to the All-ASUN team. Linebacker Matthew Jackson was tabbed as Phil Steele's ASUN Defensive Player of the Year.
Ross ranked fifth in the nation in passes defensed. Kyle Bailey finished the season sixth in the nation in solo tackles, while Jackson ranked 20th. EKU held a pair of opponents to under 250 total yards
In his first season, Johnson’s defense stymied a pair of Southern Conference offenses helping EKU beat The Citadel, 37-14, on the road and Western Carolina, 49-17, in the 2020 Opportunity Bowl. EKU also knocked off No. 11 Central Arkansas for the program’s first win over a top-25 ranked team since 2013, and first victory over a non-conference ranked team since 2003.
Johnson’s defense held Troy to 10 second half points as EKU nearly upset the FBS Trojans on the road.
In his first season as a starter, linebacker Matthew Jackson excelled in Johnson’s defense. Jackson led the nation during the fall season with two fumbles recovered and ranked ninth in the country with 9.9 tackles per game. Defensive back Kmare Carey ranked ninth in the nation during the fall season with 0.40 interceptions per game.
As a team, Eastern Kentucky was third in the country during the fall season with 16 turnovers gained.
“I’m excited to have Jake back in Richmond and at EKU,” head coach Walt Wells said. “It’s a place that is so dear to his heart, and it’s great to have a former Colonel leading our defense. Jake did a great job at Murray State, as the special teams coordinator and the defensive coordinator, developing Quincy Williams and Marquez Sanford into NFL players. We’re fortunate to have him back and to have his leadership on defense.”
Johnson worked on the staff at Murray State University from 2016 to 2019. After spending his first two seasons with the Racers as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Johnson served as the defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019 while still also coaching the linebacker position group.
Under his guidance as defensive coordinator, Murray State improved its scoring and rushing defense each season. Linebacker Quincy Williams was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the highest draft pick in MSU history. In addition, defensive back Marquez Sanford signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.
Johnson recruited multiple all-conference players. In 2018 he successfully recruited the No. 1 and No. 5 ranked players in the Ohio Valley Conference. As the special teams coordinator, Johnson tutored kicker Connor Mitchell who led the nation in field goals per game (1.82) and set a school record with six field goals in a game during the 2016 season.
In his first stint at Eastern Kentucky, Johnson helped the Colonels win OVC Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2011 and make four FCS playoff appearances. He coached 17 defensive linemen who earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and five who picked up All-America recognition. In 2015, Noah Spence and Bryce Krebs were named to the All-OVC team. Spence was also chosen as the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-America honors and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. EKU ranked first or second in the OVC in rushing defense in each of his final four seasons as defensive line coach.
After graduating from Eastern in 2002 with a bachelor’s of science degree in geography, with an emphasis in global studies, Johnson spent a year at Wingate University as an assistant coach. His duties there included serving as the Bulldogs’ full-time tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach, while also aiding in player recruitment and game-day planning. Johnson then returned to Eastern Kentucky in 2004 as a graduate assistant coach.
A three-year starting offensive lineman during his collegiate career, Johnson garnered All-Ohio Valley Conference accolades at center in 2001. That same year, Johnson served as the Colonels’ offensive team captain and was named the squad’s offensive lineman of the year.
Johnson earned four letters from 1997-2001 and was a freshman on the 1997 Colonel team which captured an OVC championship. He found success on and off the field at EKU, earning two spots on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and five Colonel Scholar awards.
Johnson married the former Kate Lyon, a four-year volleyball letter winner at Eastern who was named team co-MVP in 2000, in the summer of 2007. The Johnsons have two children – Sam and Zoey.
