With the No. 182 selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, the 49ers picked USC wide receiver 
Johnson played in 47 games (20 starts) for the Trojans, totaling 3,501 all-purpose yards in his four-year career. As a senior, Johnson was an All-Pac 10 second-team selection as a punt returner and an honorable mention choice as a receiver. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound widewout is now reunited with 49ers wide receivers coach John Morton, who was his position coach at USC for four seasons.
For more on Johnson, read his conference call transcript:
On whether 49ers wide receiver coach John Morton gave any indication this was going to happen:
“I talked to him over the phone and he was telling me they wanted me to play for them, so I was excited.”
On whether he thought San Francisco would be a good fit for him when he was hired at San Francisco:
“Immediately, I thought that. When I saw him leave USC and go to San Francisco, I thought that would be my chance to go play with him again.”
On his impressions of Coach Harbaugh while he was at Stanford:
“A very good coach. He had his guys coached up very well every time they played us and he’s a tremendous competitor.”
On whether he liked Harbaugh while at USC:
“We all respected him. He’s a great coach and he had his players doing the right things on the field, and off the field, and he’s a great coach and I can’t wait to play for him.”
On whether he had any visits with the 49ers:
“I didn’t have any visits with him, but I knew Coach Morton was there and I knew I still had a chance to play with my coach from USC.”
On whether he ever talked to him or was today the first time he had talked to him in awhile:
“I talked to him at the Combine, and I talked to him then, and we talked about USC. Today was the day we talked about the draft.”
On what he liked about Coach Morton at USC:
“I liked how hard he worked to get the guys some balls, some plays. He’s big on detail and being a technician on the field, a tough guy, and he made me who I am today, as far as being a great athlete and being able to be smart on the field and off the field.”
On whether he played multiple positions at wide receiver at USC:
“Pretty much. He moved me everywhere and he taught me how to learn everybody’s position on the field. I took that on and I got chances to play slot and wideout, so it’s a win-win for me.”
On how the coaching staff views him in the NFL:
“Not much, I haven’t really heard much about what they’re doing yet, but I heard about being a punt returner and being a stretch-the-field type of guy, so that’s one thing I think they are going to look for me to do, but I just can’t wait to go out and execute.”
On what his best skills are at wide receiver:
“My route running, getting myself open. This process being the way it was, I was able to sharpen up other skills that are going to help me in the long run.”
On whether he was disappointed about falling where he did:
“No, I’m not disappointed. I’m happy and everybody has a clean slate now. Everybody’s equal. It was just my time to go out and show who I am.”
On seeing Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll twice a year:
“That will be fun, just to be able to talk to him after the game or before the game, and once I get on the field, forget about it and have to go and beat his team. That’s my thing. I’m going to come into the NFL with a chip on my shoulder and lead my team to a Super Bowl.”
