In 2017, Johnson qualified to go to Kentucky, and Nora still remembers the look of contentment in his eyes when he stepped onto the field during his official visit. He earned a starting spot in time for the last five games of his junior season and had his first career interception in the Citrus Bowl against Penn State as a senior. He graduated in December, finished his football career with 64 tackles and 12 pass breakups and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he first met with the Texans.