Jermaine Johnson impressed with Jets' efforts to acquire him

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Joe Douglas hung up the phone and pumped his fist as he announced in the Jets’ war room, “We’re on the [expletive] clock.” He got up and repeated it while hugging coach Robert Saleh as sounds of cheering and clapping filled the room.

Douglas had just acquired the No. 26 overall pick in the NFL Draft from the Titans. The Jets had called every team from 15 down to try and get a third first-round pick so they could take former Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson.

The emotion Douglas showed was real. The Jets had Johnson as one of the top eight on their board, consider him the most pro-ready pass rusher in the draft and were ecstatic they were able to get him. Johnson appreciated the effort the Jets put in and belief they have in him. He doesn’t want to let them down.

“It meant everything,” Johnson said. “This was my first pick and I know how these guys feel about me in the building. To hear they were trying to trade for me from pick 15 all the way up until 26 it means the world. It means I know I’m wanted, and I’m loved. Everyone makes me feel that way.

“It makes it that much easier for me to give everything I have to this organization.”

Getting the 6-5, 254-pound Johnson was the capper to what the Jets believe could be a transformational day for the franchise.

They drafted cornerback Sauce Gardner with the fourth pick, receiver Garret Wilson at 10 and dealt second, third and fourth-round picks to climb for Johnson.

It was somewhat fitting what the Jets had to do to get Johnson, since his path to the NFL was anything but conventional.

Johnson, 23, was academically ineligible to play Division I football coming out of Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. Johnson attended Independence Community College in Kansas for two years and was featured on the Netflix series “Last Chance U.”

He became the top junior college prospect and chose to play at Georgia, where he spent two years before transferring to Florida State. Johnson made a big impact with the Seminoles, registering 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 70 tackles overall.

“It wasn’t the clean-cut, cookie cutter way to get here but I wouldn’t want it any other way because it truly created the man sitting in front of you,” Johnson said. “I embrace it all. That is the real blessing. People talking about blessings being materialistic things. The real blessing is the journey for me and who I ended up becoming out of that. I couldn’t be more excited going on the path I went on.”

Johnson said there were no real low points. He just had to persevere and never give up on his dream and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.

“I’m kind of trailblazing,” Johnson said. “I was aiming as high as I could from as young as I could. For me to be able to sit here and do that, it’s testament to my family and what they sacrificed for me to be here. I’m just trying to do it all for them.”

Johnson had no idea he would be on “Last Chance U” when he chose Independence. It was a surprise to him. Johnson said the producers wanted him to be more involved and featured more, but he wasn’t interested and wanted to focus solely on football. Johnson hasn’t watched the show.

“My goals were very clear to me,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t really super interested in being an actor or anything. I was interested in being the best teammate I can be.”

Gardner and Wilson knew Johnson from the Netflix series, and now that they’re impressed learning all about his road to the NFL.

“That makes me like him even more,” Gardner said. “Knowing he’s been through so much and he just kept going. A lot of people that’s been through that would have given up.”

Wilson said, “He always rose to the top of the team. That says a lot about him and how he goes about his business.”

Johnson should be a good complement to what the Jets already have on the defensive line. They’re getting edge rusher Carl Lawson back from an Achilles injury, joining Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Sheldon Rankins, Bryce Huff, Jacob Martin and Vinny Curry.

Saleh loves Johnson’s athleticism and “violence” he plays with and called him “a perfect fit” for their system. After meeting with Johnson during a top-30 visit, Saleh and Douglas promised him they would come get him. Everyone is happy they did.

“I’m a family man and my family is the most important thing to me,” Johnson said. “The Jets are now a part of my family and I’m a part of their family. These guys are the most important thing to me now.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.