Roschon Johnson gets his chance to lead from the front
For most of the Texas Longhorns’ 2021 season, junior running back Roschon Johnson has taken on a specialty role as a player who comes on the field in relief of Bijan Robinson, joins him in the backfield for 20 personnel, and runs change-of-pace plays from the wildcat formation.
At the same time, he’s held a vocal leadership position in the locker room, often acting as the person who has no problem raising his voice in order to get teammates to fall in line.
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“I really appreciate that about him because when you’re not the frontline starter, people would assume ‘maybe I’m not in the position to do that,'” Sarkisian said November 8. “Roschon really assumes that role. He’s demanding, and you see it in his play.”
Johnson has been dealing with injury over the past few weeks, with Sarkisian announcing following the loss at Iowa State the Port Neches product was playing through turf toe. Johnson has 22 touches over the last four games, with nine coming in the recent loss to Kansas.
But with Robinson’s injury and other bumps and bruises in the running back room, Johnson won’t bypass an opportunity to lead from the front this weekend at West Virginia.
“It’s still business as usual,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Going from here on out, it’s just a matter of learning and correcting what I can correct, and putting my best foot forward. Nothing’s really changed.”
Despite the turf toe, Johnson delivered good reps late against the Jayhawks. When Robinson and Brooks both left due to injury, Robinson had to take on the primary workload as Texas attempted to stage a late comeback.
“My body did better than I expected when I went in the game last week,” Johnson said. “I’m heading up the right track, so I’ll be good.”
He rushed six times for 37 yards and caught three passes for 19 yards, helping Texas push the game to overtime. Texas went on to lose 57-56, dropping its fifth-straight game. In order to avoid making it six-straight and to keep bowl eligibility on the table, Johnson knows what the Longhorns have to do.
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“I just want to see everybody compete and strain,” Johnson said. “That’s the main goal for us as a team moving forward, just to outplay our opponents with our effort. That comes in many, many different forms. Whether it be offense, defense, special teams, we just want to go out and fight until the very end.”
The former high school quarterback who unselfishly switched positions ahead of the 2019 season earned immediate cachet in the locker room as a result of the move. That presence and influence has only grown in the two years since. Starters on the other side of the ball recognize how important No. 2 is to Texas’ efforts.
“I just feel like Ro, he’s a great leader. He leads those guys,” Texas defensive back Anthony Cook said Tuesday. “Then, his ability on the field to make guys miss and do what’s good for the offense, he has the ability to get yards. We’ve got complete faith in Ro.”
Whatever Johnson and other vocal leaders have tried in the locker room hasn’t pulled Texas out of its current tailspin. Even for a respected player like Johnson, the message can mean more when its coming from someone who has a large impact on the game.
As Sarkisian mentioned, Johnson contributes in a variety of ways on multiple phases.
But this weekend against West Virginia, he should provide for his teammates a consistent, down-after-down example. If they weren’t listening to him before, they’ll be able to see him work to try and help the Longhorns.
“I feel like going forward, everybody’s said what they needed to say,” Johnson said. “Moving forward from here on out, the energy is to outwork everybody and just get better for us to win these games coming up.”
