Johnson becoming Horns’ backfield closer
Freshman converted quarterback may not be considered starter, but he’s playing part
AUSTIN — Derisive chants aimed at Texas swirled in the crisp autumn air as Roschon Johnson strode out to a cordonedoff alcove near the Cotton Bowl’s south end zone.
A sort of vacancy painted the true freshman’s face last Saturday afternoon in the wake of a 3427 loss to Oklahoma. It seemed he was still trying to compartmentalize the last four hours, to sort the good and bad and irrelevant from a game the Longhorns could have won but didn’t deserve to.
But Johnson, at least, deserved praise. The converted quarterback was the best player on the field for Texas during the 115th — but his first — Red River Showdown.
“My mindset was just like every other week, take it daybyday and focus on what I can control,” Johnson said. “When I got opportunities to take advantage of, I felt like I took advantage of ’em for the most part. But there’s always something extra you can do to help the team, so we’re going to go back and look at the film to really see what more we can do from here on out.”
Johnson wasn’t expected to play six snaps this season, let alone six games. His rise as not just a competent tailback, but the best healthy backfield option on this roster remains one of the most surprising stories in the nation.
For a true freshman to finish with 118 total yards from scrimmage and average 11.9 yards per carry (on eight attempts) is an impressive feat regardless of context.
“He plays fearless. He plays tough. He plays aggressive,” Texas coach Tom Herman said Monday. “He’s got to clean some things up from a protection standpoint, but really liked the progress that he’s made in whatever it is, two months of playing that position.”
It took about one quarter for Texas to realize Oklahoma’s new defense was the real deal. The Longhorns opened with four straight punts, finished the first half with 83 total yards and just three points.
Had it not been for a few costly blunders by the Sooners, the outlook would have been far grimmer for Texas at intermission. But the scoreboard read 103. Herman and coordinator Tim Beck’s offense needed a shot of adrenaline. It came in the form of Johnson.
With UT in possession at the 39yard line early in the third quarter, Johnson received a handoff 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He skirted a Sooners defender in the backfield to avoid a loss and burst through an opening in the middle of the field.
As linemen Zach Shackelford, Parker Braun and Sam Cosmi held downfield blocks, Johnson feigned left then cut toward the right sideline. What he saw was space.
Johnson was dragged out of bounds at the Oklahoma 4yard line, 57 yards ahead of where Shackelford snapped the ball.
On the ensuing play, the 6foot2, 220pound freshman powered into the end zone with sophomore linebacker Dashaun White hanging on like a backpack. In two plays, Johnson tied the game at 10 and shifted the pressure back to Oklahoma.
“It’s a credit to my Oline,” Johnson said. “I just ran with a good tempo coming out of the backfield, let my blocks set up and hit it as hard as I could. It felt great to see that open grass.”
Herman has yet to name Johnson the starter over sophomore Keaontay Ingram. In truth, the designation matters little.
Spurs legend and sixthman extraordinaire Manu Ginobili may have started most games in a courtside seat, but he was on the floor at the end when it mattered most. Against Oklahoma it was Johnson playing Ginobili’s role as a lategame sparkplug and potential closer.
Both of Ingram’s rushes came in the first half. In the final 30 minutes he recorded just two receptions for no gain.
Considering Johnson also outtouched (2212) and outgained (13121) Ingram in Texas’ previous win over West Virginia, the workload split is growing more pronounced by the week. But Herman isn’t willing to write off the sophomore.
“Keaontay rushed for 120something yards (he had 114) against Oklahoma State too,” Herman said. “We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bath water.”
For his part, Johnson isn’t concerned about where he sits on the depth chart.
As he prepared last Saturday for a long, solemn bus ride back to Austin, the former quarterback recruit was demoralized by the loss but optimistic regarding his ability to help the 15thranked Longhorns (42, 21 in Big 12) rebound this Saturday against Kansas (24, 03).
“I control what I can,” Johnson said. “Coach Herman, when he tells me to go in, I go in and just play my part. That’s my role. I’m glad to be in this position right now.”