Prince George's Native Selected No. 17 By Chargers In 1st Round Of NFL Draft

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Bowie native Zion Johnson has been selected by the Chargers at No. 17. Johnson plays guard at Boston College.

The selection of the Riverdale Baptist High School grad Thursday night was the first time the Chargers have chosen a guard in the first round.

Johnson told WUSA9 he had met with the Chargers during the scouting combine but didn't have any conversations with them after that.

“It was so unexpected. I was mid-conversation when I got the call,” he said.

Johnson was a first-team Associated Press All-America selection last season and one of the consensus top prospects at guard coming into the draft. He was the second guard selected in a first round that saw nine offensive linemen go off the board.

He played two seasons at Davidson (2017-2018) before transferring to Boston College. He started 30 games for the Eagles from 2019-2021 and was part of an offensive line that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2021.

“A lot of guys, you ask them, ‘When you were in high school, did you see yourself here now?’ For me, honestly, no. I went to Davidson and really, it was just having to overcome a lot of things on my way to Boston College," Johnson said. "I think when I got there, I got a perspective where I thought the NFL was an achievable goal."