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Courtesy of Draft Guys
Jeremiah Johnson (Oregon – 4SR) 5’9” 198 Combine Invite: Yes Returning from a torn right ACL, Johnson opened the season with the first 100-yard game of his career in a thrashing of Washington. He had a 44-yard run on the Duck’s first series and finished it with a four-yard TD run. He had another 13-yard TD run later in the game. Utah State came to town next and on the second play from scrimmage, Johnson broke off a 37-yard run down the left sideline. Instead of running out of bounds, Johnson, as usual, looked for the extra yard and delivered a stiff arm to Utah State DB Caleb Taylor. Johnson dislocated his right shoulder on the play and was done for the afternoon. Former JUCO star 3JR LeGarrette Blount took over and rushed for 132 yards in the victory and the RBBC was on. Johnson bounced back quickly, just missing 100 yards in the next two games, at Purdue and against Boise State, but also lost two fumbles, while splitting carries with Blount. Johnson and Blount each ran for three TDs in the red zone when in a rout at Washington State. Neither was particularly effective when the Ducks got beat up at USC, but Johnson got the team off to a good start with a one-yard TD run for the first score of the game. It would be Oregon’s only TD in the game. An ineffective performance in a win against UCLA followed for Johnson, then at Arizona State, he ran for a 43-yard TD on the first series and added another six-yard TD run later in the game. Johnson got back over 100 yards for the second time this season at California, but the Ducks dropped the game. He had back-to-back 100-yard games in contributing to a comeback win against Stanford where Blount ran for the game-winning TD on his second score of the day. Despite aggravating his shoulder in practice the week leading up to their Civil War rivalry with Oregon State, Johnson started, as usual, in the game. He and Blount ran all over Oregon State in the victory, ruining the Beavers’ Rose Bowl aspirations. Blount went for 112, but Johnson posted a career-high 219 yards rushing, including a career-long 83-yard TD. Johnson also had a 79-yard run to set up a TD for Blount. As the Ducks prepared to face Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, Johnson missed several days of practice with a hamstring problem and stomach virus. He was ready to go for the game, posting 119 yards on 12 carries, including a 76-yard TD run to break a bowl record held by Barry Sanders. Johnson finished the season with 1,201 yards rushing on an outstanding 7.15 ypc. He was recognized with second-team All-PAC 10 honors. Johnson was invited to play for the North in the Senior Bowl and opened some eyes in practice with his skills and versatility. Reportedly he was one of the most impressive back for the North. In the game, he made the most of his five touches. He had a nice 16-yard run on a fourth-and-short late in the second half to get the first down and then had a good catch in the flat for a four-yard TD on the next play. He also had a 22-yard reception and ran for a two-point conversion.
Living in the shadow of blue chip recruit Jonathan Stewart for three years, Johnson proved in 2008 what a talent he was in his own right. Johnson is compact, but thick for his size and not afraid to run inside, also packing a powerful stiff arm. Despite the bulk he added, it hasn’t compromised the quickness you need in a smaller back. He has good vision and agility, but tends to rely on that to dance behind the line or bounce too much outside, which won’t work at the next level. It will be interesting to see his timed speed, because he looked like he lost none coming off knee surgery and hit a handful of home runs while sporting an outstanding 7.15 ypc average. Great instincts help him find the lane for the big play, as well. He wasn’t used much in the passing game, but looks like a natural receiver when he did catch the ball. A nice kick returner early in his career, those duties were taken away to help keep him healthy. Durability has been a concern. He missed 11 of 38 games heading in to his final season in which he played in every game, although left one after a shoulder injury on his first carry. He has never been a workhorse, but that doesn’t project to be his role. The Ducks appear to have a promising pipeline of NFL RB talent going on similar to that of the Minnesota Gophers.
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