Eastern Michigan Athletics
Johnny Sears Signs Free Agent Contract
5/14/2010 11:58:49 AM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Defensive back is second Eagle this spring to sign with a pro team
Click Here for Sears' 2009 Stats (PDF).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University defensive back Johnny Sears (Fresno, Calif.-Edison) is the second Eagles' player this spring to sign a free agent contract, inking a deal with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. EMU punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) signed a free agent contract earlier this spring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 6-foot, 184-pound Sears played just one season at EMU after joining the squad for the 2009 season. He was a starting defensive cornerback and kick returner for the Eagles for the first nine games last season before missing the final three games with a hamstring injury. He recorded 23 solo tackles with 14 assists for 37 total tackles and had seven pass deflections and one blocked kick. Sears also returned 33 kickoffs for 755 yards for a 22.9 average to lead the team in that category.
Sears began his career at the University of Michigan and played in eight games for the Wolverines in 2006 as a redshirt sophomore. He became mainly a kick returner in 2007 at U-M before leaving school and returning to California before the season ended. Sears then transferred to the College of the Sequoias and practiced with the team in 2008, but did not play in any games.
