Skip to main content
Join

Indiana CB, former Notre Dame transfer JoJo Johnson enters NCAA transfer portal

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•12/28/24•

NickSchultz_7

On3 image
Johnson was an Indiana product out of Merrillville High School (Photo: JoJo Johnson Instagram)

Indiana cornerback JoJo Johnson has entered the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He started his career at Notre Dame before taking his talents downstate to IU.

Johnson took a redshirt after his lone season in South Bend in 2021 due to a torn ACL, and he later headed to the JUCO ranks in 2022. He then spent two years at Indiana, where he appeared in all 12 games in 2023, totaling 12 tackles and a pass defended. This past season, as the Hoosiers made a run to the College Football Playoff, he played in just two games – including the season finale against Purdue.

Johnson played high school football at Merrillville (Ind.), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 760 overall player from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

JoJo Johnson is the 13th player to hit the open market after Notre Dame ended Indiana’s season in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers put together a year to remember under new coach Curt Cignetti, finishing 11-1 – marking the first time the program ever reached 10 wins – during the regular season before suffering the 27-17 loss to the Fighting Irish in South Bend on Dec. 20.

IU has also been active in the transfer portal again this cycle, landing 10 commitments as of Saturday afternoon. The headliner of the group is former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who came in as the No. 12 overall player and No. 2-ranked quarterback to hit the portal this year, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.

Mendoza is coming off a huge 2024 season at Cal as the Golden Bears made their ACC debut. He threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as well. He missed the regular-season finale due to an illness, but will now get ready to head to Bloomington as the heir apparent to Kurtis Rourke.