Marcus Johnson is no stranger to the SEC, having played at Ole Miss with coaching stops at Mississippi State and Missouri on his resume.
He spent the 2025 season with Ohio State as the program’s assistant offensive line coach. The Buckeyes’ offense has been among the nation’s best all season averaging 34.9 points per game while earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. The OSU offensive line has allowed only 11.0 sacks through 13 games this season. Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld were both named to the All-Big Ten second team.
Prior to Ohio State, Johnson spent two seasons at Purdue leading the offensive line. His first Boilermakers’ line helped produce the best running attack at Purdue in over a decade despite battling injury to multiple linemen during the 2023 season. The team ran for 2,029 yards – the most since 2012 – and produced consecutive 300-yard rushing games for the first time since 1968, including the most in a Big Ten game that season with 353 yards vs. Minnesota. Gus Hartwig and Marcus Mbow picked up All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition for their efforts.
At Missouri, Johnson was promoted in May 2021 to Assistant Head Coach and Run Game Coordinator after helping the 2020 Tigers average 135.2 yards rushing per game and score 21 touchdowns. His first o-line ranked fourth in the SEC and 30th nationally allowing only 1.6 sacks per game. The Tigers improved in the run game in 2021, averaging 179.8 yards per game with 22 scores while RB Tyler Badie set a school record with 1,604 yards, including five 200-yard games. Johnson’s OL improved in protection as well, yielding 1.4 sacks per game to rank third in the league and 20th nationally. Center Michael Maietti earned Second-Team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus along with All-SEC honors.
Johnson coached the offensive line for two seasons at Mississippi State (2018-19), helping the Bulldogs to berths in the Outback Bowl and Music City Bowl. The Bulldogs’ running game was among the best in the league both years Johnson was in Starkville, ranking second in the league in 2018 rushing yards per game and third in 2019 when RB Kylin Hill All-SEC first team honors after running for 1,350 yards and 10 scores.
Johnson’s first offensive line at MSU was anchored by First-Team All-American Elgton Jenkins, who was picked 44th overall by Green Bay in the 2019 NFL Draft.
At Duke, Johnson began his coaching career under his former college coach, David Cutcliffe. Johnson joined the staff in 2011 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach before moving to an offensive quality control role for three seasons then taking over his first on-field coaching job as the offensive line coach in 2016. He developed center Austin Davis into an All-ACC performer in 2017.
Johnson was a Second-Team All-SEC offensive lineman at Ole Miss as a senior team captain. He was a second-round selection by Minnesota in the 2005 NFL Draft before playing four seasons for the Vikings and one season for Tampa Bay.
He and his wife, Veullana, have three children – London, Meraki and Violette.
The Johnson File
Birthdate: Dec. 1, 1981
Hometown: Coffeeville, Miss.
High School: Coffeeville HS (Miss.)
College: Ole Miss, 2004
Family: Wife – Veullana; Children – London, Meraki and Violette
Coaching Experience
2011-12 Duke – Assistant Strength & Conditioning
2013-15 Duke – Offensive Quality Control
2016-17 Duke – Offensive Line
2018-19 Mississippi State – Offensive Line
2020 Missouri – Offensive Line
2021-22 Missouri – Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator/OL
2023-24 Purdue – Offensive Line
2025 Ohio State – Assistant Offensive Line
Playing Experience
2001-04 Ole Miss
2005-08 Minnesota Vikings
2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
