Rookie Spotlight: Roschon Johnson, Texas
Height: 6-0 1/2″
Weight: 225
Hands: 9 ½”
Arm: 31 ¾”
40 yard dash: 4.58
2023 Age: 22
NFL Comparison: Jordan Howard, Shaun Alexander, Jeff Wilson

Offensive Market Share Metrics

Carries: 20%
Receptions: 6%
Scrimmage Yards: 12%
Scrimmage TDs: 12%
Total Production Percentage: 12%

As a high school prospect: Class of 2019; 4-star

Pros

– Powerful frame, carries his weight very well
– Extremely versatile for his size
– Good contact balance
– Sees the field like the former QB he is
– Accelerates quickly
– Protects the ball
– Capable pass-catcher
– Probably the best pass protector in the class
– Useful in special teams
– Always falls forward, does not go down on first contact
– RosterWatch All-Senior Bowl Team
– Intelligent and effective leader/communicator off-field

Cons

– Upring running style, presents lots of surface area to the defense
– Takes a lot of punishment
– Can play slower than he is at times
– Obviously, not a huge statistical producer as the primary backup to a transcendent talent

Scouting Notes:
A former dual threat highschool QB, Johnson took the utility necessary to play that position to his role as a do-it-all backup and wildcat-banger-QB behind the draft’s No.1 RB, Bijan Robinson. There really wasn’t a responsibility given to Johnson that he didn’t succeed at at Texas, serving as a between-the-tackles back, pass catcher out of the backfield and out wide, and special teams ace. With the ball in his hands, Johnson possesses quick feet, if not game breaking speed, but he gets up to speed quickly. His 10-yard split at the combine (1.52, third-best among RBs) was basically even with Bijan Robinson, who clocked in at the much faster 4.46 in the 40. It shows that Roschon might not be able to pull away for house calls in the same way the faster Robinson can, but he can get up to top speed with similar initial acceleration. Johnson has an ability to break tackles with relative ease. His absurd 4.28 yards after contact per rush was, in fact, even better than Robinson’s excellent rate (4.17). His upright running style doesn’t do him any favors in shedding tacklers, but he still manages to: Johnson’s ability to make defenders miss in space helps to mitigate his somewhat slow play speed. The ball is also extremely safe in Johnson’s hands – He recorded 1 fumble in 448 career touches. Of those 448 touches, 56 were receptions for 420 yards altogether. Johnson wasn’t just useful in the passing game as a receiver though. He also served as a willing and capable pass blocker, as one can surmise from his massive frame. It was very clear at the Senior Bowl that Johnson was the best pass-protecting back in practices while he was healthy enough to take part, and, indeed, one of the best in the realm of the last decade or so, even going back to the week of practices for pass-pro specialists like James White.

Fantasy Outlook:
Johnson’s willingness to stay put at Texas, when a lot of other backs would have probably transferred to another program, indicates a team-player attitude to many an NFL team looking for a 1B to their current 1A. He would do well as a power compliment to a smaller, more evasive back already in place. But Johnson seems capable of leading a backfield himself, as a slightly more plodding but consistent bellcow. His versatility should get him opportunities early and often, and his size will give him goal-line chances too. I could see Johnson going somewhere like Chicago or Dallas and flourishing, even with more electric backs ahead of him – He’s done it before.