Zay Johnson is a cornerback for Cincinnati standing 6'2" and weighing 180 pounds. A native of Clinton, South Carolina, Johnson was a consensus three-star recruit rated among the Top 25 prospects in his state and ranked among national outlets's Top 100 cornerback prospects in the 2024 class. He enrolled early and participated in the 2023 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game. Johnson made his collegiate debut against Houston in 2024, recording one tackle, and appeared in four additional games that season while retaining freshman eligibility. He saw action against Iowa State, Kansas State, and TCU. Johnson did not appear in games during 2025.