RENO, Nev. – Three-time national champion and former NFL linebacker Nico Johnson has been named Nevada's defensive ends coach, head coach Jeff Choate announced Friday.

Johnson replaces Jacquies Smith, who was named the Atlanta Falcons' outside linebackers coach Thursday.

"We're disappointed with the timing and sad to see Coach Smith move on, but we're happy for him. It's a great opportunity for him to advance his career, and I think it says a lot about the caliber of men that we're able to attract to Nevada, that he's going to be a position coach in the NFL. The good news is that it's a great opportunity for Jacquies and his family, and it's also opened up an opportunity for us to bring in another outstanding young coach in Nico Johnson," Choate said.

Johnson reunites with Choate in Reno, after the pair worked together at Texas from 2022-23 and helped the Longhorns to the 2023 Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth. Johnson served as a graduate assistant, working with the Longhorn defensive line the past two seasons and helping mentor 2023 Outland Trophy winner, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and consensus All-American T'Vondre Sweat, and 2023 NFL Draft picks Keondre Coburn (Kansas City Chiefs) and Moro Ojomo (Philadelphia Eagles).

Choate on Johnson: "Nico is a three-time national champion and a fourth-round pick. I had a chance to work with him at Texas for two years, and he was a guy that I was very interested in bringing on in the initial [Nevada] staff but the timing and situations just didn't mesh up the right way. So, I'm really grateful that he was available to join our launch. I think he brings a wealth of experience. Number one, he's a tremendous person; he's got an extensive coaching background, a deeper coaching background, and brings a lot of versatility. He's going to work with our edge but he's played inside linebacker, outside linebacker in the NFL. Nico worked with two of the best interior defensive linemen in the country last year at Texas, so I feel really fortunate that we're able to get a young man of his caliber. I know he's ready to hit the ground running."

In 2023, Johnson's tutelage helped Sweat to career highs of 45 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks. Overall, the Longhorn defensive line's play contributed to Texas pacing the Big XII in total defense (336.7 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (82.4 yards allowed per game, third in the country), scoring defense (18.9 ppg), and third-down conversion defense (26.6 percent, second in the country).

Between his two seasons at Texas, Johnson served a second Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship in 2023, this one with the New England Patriots. He served his first fellowship with the Chicago Bears in 2020.

"I am grateful for this opportunity that Coach Choate has blessed me with. To be able to work with someone who believes in your abilities to mold young men into better men is an honor," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to bringing an even more hungry and driven mindset to be successful in all qualities of life!"

Johnson enjoyed a standout playing career at Alabama (2009-12), where, as a four-year starter at inside linebacker, he helped the Crimson Tide to three BCS National Championships 2009, 2011-12) and two SEC titles (2009, 2012). A Freshman All-America selection in 2009, Johnson finished his Alabama career with 87 solo tackles, including 16.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks, with two interceptions.

Drafted in the fourth round (No. 99 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnson would go on to spend four seasons (2013-16) in the league with the Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington, and the New York Giants.

Johnson embarked on his coaching career in 2016, serving as linebackers coach at The Episcopal School of Dallas for three seasons (2016-18).

He joined the Louisiana staff as defensive quality control coach with the Ragin' Cajun outside linebackers. He would spend four years (2019-22) at Lafayette, serving as a graduate assistant working with inside linebackers from 2020-22, including as interim inside linebackers coach for the 2020 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

By the end of Johnson's tenure at Louisiana, the Ragin' Cajuns had improved its scoring defense from allowing 33.7 points per game in 2018 to 18.3 per game in 2021, the latter figure ranking 11th in the country. The Ragin' Cajuns won two Sun Belt titles (2020-21), three West Division titles (2019-21), and went 3-0 in bowl games.