Light coming on for Miami LB Caleb Johnson: "It just clicked and I was playing really fast”

If the Miami Hurricanes defense is going to make a big jump up this season after a couple of lackluster years, MLB Caleb Johnson will need to do his part. The UCLA transfer came in this summer and quickly transitioned to the Kevin Steele defense. He certainly looked the part in Saturday’s opening fall scrimmage: Per CaneSport reports he was going sideline to sideline making plays.

Johnson shared his thoughts coming off the opening fall scrimmage, saying “I think I did pretty well, had a pretty good scrimmage overall. I need to clean some stuff up but I think I’m adjusting fast, getting to the ball fast.”

Coach Mario Cristobal said on Monday that, regarding Johnson, “The light’s coming on.”

“That’s honestly what I felt like – all week of practice I wasn’t thinking about my assignment, it just clicked and I was playing really fast,” Johnson said. “I’d say I’m really getting adjusted.”

Johnson is expected to start in the middle of the defense ahead of returning starter Corey Flagg, who doesn’t have the same size and athleticism. Johnson also has experience: He started 17 games the last two years for the Bruins.

Johnson will have a lot on his shoulders. As the anticipated Day 1 starter, the 6-1, 230-pounder needs to call the defense and make sure the linebacker play/tackling rate is higher than it’s been.

Johnson says his perspective is that the Front 7 on defense “is looking great.”

“We got the (DL) transfers, it’s going to be real nice for our linebackers to find holes, make easy tackles coming clean,” he said. “We’re looking great.”

Johnson adds that he thinks the Miami defensive line “is really good, probably going to be the best in the nation. A lot of depth, a lot of guys that can play.”

Johnson plans to do his part. This past season Johnson had 45 tackles with an interception. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he had a team high 44 tackles, 7 TFL and 5.5 sacks in seven games. After that season he was named honorable mention All-Pac-12.

Prior to UCLA he attended Fullerton College after coming out of Murrieta (Calif.) Vista High School as a 3-star prospect.

It’s worth noting that Johnson had a solid 65.3 overall grade last year per Pro Football Focus, including an excellent 73.8 grade when called to cover an opposing back or tight end.

But Johnson will need to improve his tackling a bit from the last two years, as he has struggled at times in that department – in 2020 he graded out at a below average 55.6 in tackling per Pro Football Focus, and last year saw him grade out at 52.5 percent.

Johnson says he wanted to transfer because “I wanted a better opportunity, I believe a better program, no offense to UCLA. I just saw a bigger platform and better coaching here.”

In Kevin Steele’s defense, MLB is an extremely important position in making sure everyone is in the right spots and has the right call.

That’s on Johnson.

“Got here a few months ago, I’m starting to really pick it up faster,” Johnson said. “It was different being in a new place and everything, but the way they’re teaching is really resonating.”

*With Chase Smith working at SAM, Johnson says “He picked up everything, he’s fast, he’s physical. And he’s learning a lot.”

Asked about Wesley Bissainthe, Johnson said, “He’s fast, he’s physical, he knows how to get to the ball. And he’s real young. So his potential is through the roof.”

* Johnson says Charlie Strong was “a big part” of why he chose Miami.

“He’s really teaching us, breaking it down to me and the other guys, getting us ready,” Johnson said.