Cole Johnson Class: Freshman Hometown: Hudson, OH High School: Hudson Height / Weight: 6-3 / 200 Position: Righthanded Pitcher Bats/Throws: R/R

Recruited walk-on who logged several impressive outings during 2007 fall season ... first impressed the Irish coaches at the 2006 ND baseball fall camp, due to his prototypical pitchers body (6-3, 185) and arm movement ... a very competitive and confident pitcher who has made quick transition to staff's philosophy of "willing" outs and challenging hitters ... throws a high-80s fastball (has topped out at 90) and a tight slider, with deceptive quickness and movement ... rewarded for his strong fall showing by earning game-2 start (for Blue) in Blue-Gold intrasquad series ... was outdueled by classmate Brian Durpa in that 3-1 game, but still had a solid outing (5 IP, 3 R/2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks, 7 groundouts) ... could face his former Hudson High School classmates Jeff Cinadr and Ryan France, when the Irish play Toledo in the 2008 season ... joins senior shortstop Brett Lilley (North Canton) as Ohio natives on 2008 ND roster ... the Irish baseball program's 63 all-time monogram winners from Ohio include recent Academic All- America shortstop Greg Lopez (Upper Arlington) and five starters from the 2002 College World Series team ... inherits #37 jersey worn most recently by RHPs Dan Kapala and Matt Laird ... turned in a 3.85 GPA during the 2007 fall semester.

PREP & PERSONAL: Logged only 75 career innings at Hudson High School due to serving as team's starting catcher as a junior and senior (also saw time at first base and outfield) ... his career pitching stats at Hudson included nineinning averages of 11 strikeouts and only three walks ... served as staff ace in his senior season ... struck out 10 batters in 6.0 innings vs. powerhouse St. Ignatius ... his senior-year offensive stats included a .329 batting avg. (second on team with 27 RBI, 3 HR) ... helped 2007 team win conference title before disappointing loss in district round ... named second team all-conference as a senior (also first team all-academic) and honorable mention all-conference as a junior ... played two years ('06-'07) for Ohio Yankees summer team that turned out six D-I players from the 2007 team ... posted junior-year wins with the Yankees vs. the Indiana Bulls Red and Indiana Bulls Black ... helped Yankees finish second out of 64 teams at Buckeye Elite Tournament ... also a two-year letterwinner in football (as a wide receiver), earning conference first team all-academic honors ... graduated sixth in a class of 430 (4.48 GPA) ... was Hudson's 2007 recipient of Principal's Leadership Award ... also received Marion Albee Character Award ... member of National Honor Society ... current ND freshman soccer player Rose Augustin hails from same home area while former Irish soccer player Mary Boland also attended Hudson HS ... his grandfather Dick Ralph played football at BYU while his father Doug Johnson was a football player at Sacramento State ... his younger brother Forrest is a sophomore football/baseball player at Hudson HS ... born Oct. 16, 1988, in Appleton, Wis. ... son of Doug and Suzy Johnson ... full name is Cole Richard Johnson ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies ... intends to major in preprofessional studies and and Spanish.