Senior Sendoff: Roschon Johnson
There is not much more to be said about what Roschon Johnson has meant to the Texas Longhorn football program in the past few years. His unselfish switch from quarterback to running back in the 2019 season earned him a place in both the locker room and among fans as someone who is to be admired and respected.
[Get a FREE 7-day trial of Inside Texas Plus!]
“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, every challenge and every aspect of it,” Johnson said Monday.
Steve Sarkisian thinks the same as well. He has described Johnson as an alpha at various junctures, and on Monday he explained what Johnson has meant to him and the program.
“I owe a lot to him,” Sarkisian said. “I owe a lot to our leadership committee and these seniors. But Ro’, there have been a couple very significant moments that somebody needed to stand up. My voice can only go so far until it comes from a peer. He took the initiative and did that. Very eloquent in his messaging to the team but in a way that I felt like the players heard it and continue to hear it when he speaks.”
“I think that when you talk about what is a Texas Longhorn football player, in my mind I think of Roschon Johnson because he is a selfless player. He is not the star or starting running back for the University of Texas, but yet that doesn’t ever get in the way of his work ethic. That does not ever get in the way of his approach. It does not every get in the way of his want-to and want to do well for his team and want to win.”
“He could probably be starting at a bunch of other schools, yet what does he do? He maximizes his opportunities every time he gets it. He doesn’t count his reps, he makes his reps count. He starts on four special teams. He runs down on kickoff and makes tackles, and handles our punt team. He does all the little things the right way. Every time I meet with a young player, I always reference ‘how can you be more like him? That’s what your goal should be because that guy does it the right way.”
Top 10
- 1
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 2Trending
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
- 3
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
- 4Hot
5-star flip
Ole Miss flips Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham
- 5
Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
“He’s got a bright, bright future on the football field, but he’s got probably a brighter future off the football field because of who he is as a person.”
Sarkisian said Monday Johnson was “making good progress” after the senior from Port Neches, Texas left the Longhorns’ win over Kansas. Johnson was seen in a boot after the game.
Johnson mentioned he’s not ‘banking on the COVID year,’ so Friday is more than likely his last go at home in burnt orange.
“I’m taking it day by day, but I’m going to give it a go,” he said.
That’s all he’s done during his career at Texas. How could it end any other way?
Roschon Johnson career stats and honors
2019: 123 carries, 649 yards, 7 touchdowns
2020: 80 carries, 418 yards, 6 touchdowns
2021: 96 carries, 569 yards, 5 touchdowns
2022: 80 carries, 477 yards, 3 touchdowns
