2023 NFL Draft Snapshot: Roschon Johnson
In the summer of 2017, Port Neches-Groves quarterback Roschon Johnson attended a camp at Texas. Eventually, the event moved inside Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, and one of the last parts of the night was a fastest man competition.
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Johnson, competitor that he is, entered the race. Whether he won or was neck-and-neck for first in the competition is a detail lost in the six years that have passed, but he was rightfully excited with his performance. Someone decided it would be a good idea to hand Johnson a microphone. He took it, and told all gathered…
“I’M COMMITTED!”
After a tremendous career at PNG, Johnson enrolled early in 2019 and went through spring drills at quarterback. He struggled with some aspects of the position, as most freshmen do, but was set to continue working behind Sam Ehlinger and Casey Thompson in the fall.
Then, injury after injury struck the Longhorns’ running back room during preseason camp. Texas desperately needed help, and Johnson stepped in.
It wasn’t a completely foreign position. With PNG, many of the quarterback run schemes were similar to those running backs carried out at Texas. There were adjustments, but he made them successfully and had 807 yards from scrimmage in 2019.
Johnson never moved back to quarterback. Hudson Card and Ja’Quinden Jackson showed up in 2020. Charles Wright arrived in 2021. Quinn Ewers and Maalik Murphy moved to the Forty Acres in 2022.
In any case, he flourished at his new position. He often had to play second-fiddle to other backs, namely Bijan Robinson, but he provided a one-two punch at the position that most Power 5 teams were incredibly envious of.
At times, he had to take the lead role, with his performance versus Kansas State in 2021 the best example. With Thompson and Card hobbled, Johnson had 32 touches for 189 yards and a score plus a completion. He willed Texas to its fifth victory of the year, and solidified his status as the alpha in the locker room.
Johnson didn’t just lead with his voice, he led with his actions. He was on several special teams units and recorded eight tackles in 2022 on kickoff and punt coverage. He fought for tough yardage game after game, with no better example than in his final contest in burnt orange. Johnson had 13 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns versus Baylor while on a bum ankle. His final score featured a memorable hurdle of a Baylor defender followed by a celebration.
If Johnson’s four-year career in Austin wasn’t enough evidence for front offices, his work done in pre-draft events gave NFL teams more data showing just how impressive the former quarterback and McCombs School of Business grad is. After breaking his hand in Senior Bowl practices, Johnson continued to go through workouts before he could not do any more drills. His injury required a procedure, and he recovered in time to put in a solid performance at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Johnson is unique compared to other running backs in that his year-by-year college workload was far lighter than those of other top backs considering he never was a feature back. In those limited carries, he ran as hard as he could through contact and showcased an acceptable level of elusiveness for a back his size. Plus, he was utilized as a blocker often in 21 personnel looks and even Go-Go sets inspired by former wide receivers coach Brennan Marion. Finally, other high-end backs arguably don’t have the same level of special teams want-to (or other intangibles) as Johnson.
Unlike his backfield partner in Robinson, Johnson is competing with other backs in the draft who have just as strong of a resume but with more evidence of their physical talents.
Regardless, Johnson is set to fulfill his NFL dreams at a position he likely never envisioned playing while in Southeast Texas. Thanks to his hard work and unquestionable leadership ability, he made the most of his opportunities and overcame a slight speed bump on his way to becoming an NFL player who could hear his name within the top 100 picks.
40-yard dash: 4.58 (1.54 10-yard split) | Bench: N/A | Vertical: 31.5 inches | Broad Jump: 10 feet 2 inches | 3 Cone: N/A | 20-yard shuttle: N/A | 60-yard shuttle: N/A | The Athletic draft grade: Round 3 (No. 91 overall)
Pro day measurements: 6-foot-0, 225 pounds
What’s working for Johnson
- Elite intangibles
- Low milage, durable back who has the capability to play through injuries
- Plus pass blocker, often subbed in for those purposes
- Ability to run through tackles, also has some explosive athletic capabilities (see his hurdle attempts through the years)
- Special teams ability that offers him more value than others at his position
- Wildcat quarterback option on the table, part of tremendous versatility
What’s working against Johnson
- Some teams may be wary of his limited resume
- May fall victim to conventional thinking about running backs
- Limited route running capability
- Has good burst but lacks top-end speed
- Can cut well but overall quickness isn’t a strength compared to other backs
