ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- University of North Alabama senior safety Chris Johnson of Birmingham, Ala., has been selected to play in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Johnson, a starter at safety for the Lions in 2017 and 2018, becomes the 37th all-time UNA football player to compete in a post-season all-star contest. He will be the third former Lions to play in the East-West Shrine Game, joining offensive lineman Mike Nord (1990) and defensive end Israel Raybon (1995).   

Begun in 1925, the East-West Shrine Game® is the longest running college all-star football game in the nation and supports Shriners Hospitals for Children® and its mission to serve children in need of expert medical care. More than 1.3 million children have benefited from Shriners Hospitals' unique way of providing hope and healing, regardless of the families' ability

Johnson made 47 tackles and intercepted two passes in during North Alabama's first season in NCAA Division I FCS football in 2018. He helped lead the Lions to an impressive 7-3 record.

In 2017, Johnson was an all-conference all-region and All-American honoree in NCAA Division II.  He finished that season with 50 tackles, two tackles for loss and six interceptions.


Former UNA Lions in College Football All-Star Games
            
    1984    Daryl Smith    Blue-Gray Classic
            Senior Bowl
    1985    Lewis Billups    Blue‑Gray Classic
            Senior Bowl
    1990    Mike Nord    East‑West Shrine Classic
            All-America Classic
    1993    Tyrone Rush    Snow Bowl
    1993    Jeff Surbaugh    Snow Bowl
    1994    Kin Taylor    Snow Bowl
    1994    Marcus Hunter    Snow Bowl
    1995    Israel Raybon    Blue-Gray Classic
            East-West Shrine Classic
    1995     Marcus Keyes    Blue-Gray Classic
            Senior Bowl
    1995    Ronald McKinnon    Snow Bowl
    1995    Jarius Hayes    Snow Bowl
    1996    Gerald Smith    Snow Bowl
    1997    Reginald Ruffin    Snow Bowl
    1997    Joe Washington    Snow Bowl
    1998    Bobby Collins    Snow Bowl
    1998    Tony Faggioni    Snow Bowl
    2000    Chad Sears    Cactus Bowl
    2000    Larry Paul    Cactus Bowl
    2002    John Bradley    Cactus Bowl
    2003    Will Hall    Cactus Bowl
    2004    Evan Oglesby    Cactus Bowl
    2005    Blake Farris    Cactus Bowl
    2005    Lee Vickers    Cactus Bowl
    2007    Tim Hunt    Cactus Bowl
    2007    Jason Messing    Cactus Bowl
    2008    Tom Schneider    Cactus Bowl
    2008    Ed Gant    Cactus Bowl
    2008    Mike McLendon    Cactus Bowl
    2010    Chad Daniel    Cactus Bowl
    2010    Courtney Harris    Cactus Bowl
    2010    Steven Wesley    Cactus Bowl
    2010    Antron Dillon    Dixie Gridiron Classic
    2011    Jamie Dixon    Don Hansen Bowl
    2011    Wes Holland    Don Hansen Bowl
    2011    Janoris Jenkins    Senior Bowl
    2013    Nick Williams    NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
    2014    Taylor Pontius    College Gridiron Showcase
    2018    Chris Johnson    East-West Shrine Classic