Johnson ready to answer the bell at QB
AUSTIN — Roschon Johnson doesn’t think it wise to draw comparisons between what happened last year against Kansas State and what might happen this week against UTSA.
“I mean, the K-State game, we were in a whole other type of situation collectively as a team,” the Longhorns’ senior running back said Monday. “You can say it with the quarterback situation, but we're at a different stage (now). So I can't really compare the two.”
Texas skidded into its 2021 season finale with two bangedup quarterbacks and a six-game losing streak in tow. Then-starter Casey Thompson tried to gut it out, but his mangled throwing hand had finally reached its pain threshold.
Enter Johnson, the converted halfback who spent the bulk of his pre-college days at quarterback. Coach Steve Sarkisian deployed No. 2 as the team’s wildcat quarterback, and he answered with 189 total yards on 33 touches in a gutsy 22-17 win over Kansas State.
But for Johnson and No. 21 Texas (1-1), the situation heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. tilt against UTSA (1-1) is different than it was last November.
One, because third-string quarterback Charles Wright is now ready to play while starter Quinn Ewers (clavicle) and backup Hudson Card (ankle) nurse injuries. And two, because star running back Bijan Robinson will be available — he missed the Kansas State game with an elbow injury — and Sarkisian will put the ball in the yardage-chewing junior’s hands as often as possible.
That’s why Johnson doesn’t expect to replicate his careerbest performance against the Roadrunners this weekend at Royal-Memorial Stadium. But that doesn’t mean “Ro” won’t handle some direct snaps, either in the wildcat formation or a variation of passing game coordinator and receivers coach Brennan Marion's "Go-Go offense," which operates with dual running backs.
“I think Ro, naturally, that role is comfortable for him being a high school quarterback,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Ro’s a unique person, and you guys know I speak very highly of him as a person. He's very dedicated to this program. And anything we ask him to do, he does it. Whether it's cover kickoffs, which he was tremendous at on Saturday (against No. 1 Alabama), to blocking, to running, to playing wildcat quarterback. Whatever we ask him to do, he does it.”
Johnson’s been answering the bell since long before the Sarkisian Regime arrived.
Injuries decimated Texas' backfield in 2019, leading thencoach Tom Herman to ask Johnson, then a true freshman quarterback fresh off an All-America career at Port Neches-Groves, to transition to running back one week before the season opener.
It wasn't the role Johnson sought out when signing with Texas. But he embraced the unexpected challenge, transforming into a bulldozing tailback who's averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 36 career games.
Now, with his history of playing quarterback and subsequent transition into the backfield, Johnson is basically the paradigm of a wildcat quarterback. His processing speed, tenacity, vision and throwing ability make for an ideal emergency option in the event that, say, multiple quarterbacks go down with injury.
“I think he's more than equipped to handle the things we ask him to do in the wildcat,” Sarkisian said. “You know, we don't major in it. But the idea that we can get to it I think is helpful for us as a football team.”
Make no mistake, Texas has faith that Wright will be able to steer the bus if Card is ruled out.
Sarkisian will tailor his game plan to Wright’s strengths, utilizing the redshirt freshman as a game manager who can settle in behind a much improved offensive line and hand off to an allstar group of running backs. And Johnson has faith the Austin High product will be good enough to keep Texas from leaning heavily on the wildcat formation.
“I'm more than proud of him,” Johnson said of Wright. “I played my first spring ball here and really my first fall camp here at quarterback, and I know how hard it is to try to learn a college system and operate it. And from his struggles that he had to where he’s at now, it’s just night and day.”
After Johnson powered Texas to victory over Kansas State, Sarkisian applauded him as a “warrior.” His teammates concurred.
And while Johnson won’t be called upon in the same manner against UTSA, the Longhorns are fortunate to have the selfless senior for occasions just like this.
“I'm very comfortable with it, “Johnson said of operating the wildcat offense. “I don't shy away from it at all. I feel like it gives you an advantage as a runner to have that extra blocker when you take the snap from the quarterback position. And I mean, I played quarterback pretty much my whole life leading up to college.”