Ryan Day praises unheralded receiver Xavier Johnson's breakout game vs Notre Dame

It’s doubtful that anyone, Ryan Day included, woke up last Saturday and thought the go-ahead touchdown in a grit-it-out, 21-10 win for Ohio State over Notre Dame would be scored by a former walk on. Prior to Saturday, in four full seasons at Ohio State, wide receiver Xavier Johnson hadn’t even caught a pass.

So when quarterback CJ Stroud slung a dart to Johnson on a in-breaking route in the endzone to put Ohio State ahead for good Day couldn’t help but be content. A former walk on and special teams grinder to stepping up and make such a play is the type of storybook moment college football always manages to deliver.

“Xavier Johnson practices every day, Xavier Johnson really cut his teeth on special teams,” Day said postgame. “He’s kind of a throwback player. And, for him to come in and play in that moment in this game right here, I just couldn’t be happier for him. Because it goes to show you that good things happen to good people who work hard. And that’s exactly who Xavier Johnson is.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the On3 YouTube channel today for all of the latest news on college football, recruiting, NIL, more!

Johnson was a running back in his first two seasons playing in Columbus, but he logged just four carries in those two years. Last year, his first as a receiver, he recorded on catches. Through most of his career at Ohio State, Johnson has been a special teams standout, gunning on kicks and making tackles.

Then, he was thrust into the spotlight on Saturday night with the in-game injury of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming being unable to go. Johnson had just two catches for 34 yards, but one was the critical 24-yard touchdown that put Ohio State ahead in the third quarter.

To cap it off on the ensuing kickoff, Johnson ripped down the returner inside the 20.

“And he was a walk on, he earned a scholarship, and he’s really grown into a really good football player. And we trusted putting him in the game and look what happened,” Day said. “So, very happy for him. Well deserved.”