The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Roschon Johnson drafted by Chicago Bears
04.29.2023 | Football
Texas RB Roschon Johnson was selected in the fourth round with the 115th overall pick.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Texas running back Roschon Johnson was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 115th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Johnson is the third Texas running back drafted in the last seven years, joining teammate Bijan Robinson (2023) and D'Onta Foreman (2017). Coupled with Robinson's selection in the first round on Thursday, Texas had two running backs drafted in the same year for the first time since 1982 when Rodney Tate was selected in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals and A.J. "Jam" Jones was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams in the eighth round.
With Robinson (1st Round/8th/Atlanta Falcons) selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft and Johnson (4th Rounds/115th/Chicago Bears) picked in round four, it marks the first time a Longhorn running back duo was ever selected in the first four rounds of the common NFL Draft (since 1967). Along with this year, 1982, 1963, 1955, 1947, 1944 and 1942 mark the only times two Longhorn running backs have been taken in the first eight rounds of any draft, with 1982 and this year being the only time that has happened in the common draft era.
Johnson is the 28th Texas player drafted by the Bears in program history and the first since defensive end Henry Melton was picked in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Johnson is the first Texas running back to be drafted by Chicago since Cedric Benson in 2005 and will join Foreman on the Bears' roster.
"Ro was the leader of our football team and was a guy that held himself and his teammates accountable each and every day," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He's highly competitive, very mature, and has an unbelievable work ethic. He's an awesome team guy that beyond all of his speed, power and explosiveness, is extremely tough. He can play all three downs at running back, is excellent on special teams, and he'll bring a great deal on and off the field to the Chicago Bears."
Johnson played in 47 games with five starts for the Longhorns. He ranks 18th on Texas' all-time rushing list with 2,190 yards on 392 carries (5.6 ypc). He tallied 23 rushing touchdowns and 26 total touchdowns during his time on the Forty Acres, both the 17th-most in program history.
An honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2022, he rushed 93 times for 563 yards (6.0 ypc) and five touchdowns and had 14 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown. Among the most well-rounded players in the nation, Johnson also returned a pair of kickoffs for 39 yards and led the Longhorns with seven special teams tackles, four on kickoffs and a team-best three on the punt unit.
Johnson was semifinalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in college football. He was named to the Hornung Award Honor Roll following a stellar performance against UTSA in which he carried the ball 11 times for 81 yards, tallied three receptions for 23 yards and one touchdown, accounting for seven first downs (six rushing, one receiving) in the win. Throughout the season, he took snaps when the Longhorns lined up in the wildcat formation.
A 2022 semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, Johnson was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection and seven-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by the Bears:
"It's hard to describe. It everything, a lot of emotion all at once. Really my mind kind of went blank, it's just hard to explain. I was just in the moment, really. They called my name on the screen and everyone was cheering, and it was so amazing to have their support. Just to see them here, cheering me on, it brings back so many childhood memories of all the people who brought me up along the way. It was just a special moment."
On the phone call from the Bears:
"I talked to a bunch of different coaches, and honestly it was a blur. It was a surreal feeling, and I was just talking and saying words without even thinking about what I was saying, so I honestly don't even know. It was just a crazy feeling."
On the message from the Bears and how much contact he had with them in the draft process:
"To be honest, we didn't have much contact, so it wasn't one that stood out that I was expecting, but I did pro day with their running backs coach, and that was really about it. But it was a special moment, and they just told me that I was their type of guy that they wanted in their organization, and that they would put their pick in for me."
On former Longhorn RB D'Onta Foreman on the roster:
"We haven't gotten to really talk before, but I know in these next few weeks we're really going to be getting acquainted, and I'm looking forward to it."
On his journey at Texas leading to this:
"It feels great to kind of reflect on everything seeing how far I've come. It's a special moment to see myself in this position. With all the coaching, and people I've gotten to learn from, I feel like I'm more than prepared to go in and make an impact immediately. My time here really helped me grow as a person, in all aspects of my character. I'm going to bring that with me whether it's on the field or off the field, I'm going to take that with me as I go to Chicago."
On his teammates and coaches:
"I want to thank every single teammate I've had at Texas, every single coach from Coach Choice to Coach Drayton, Coach Sark, Coach Herman, all of the people I've gotten a chance to play with and play for. I can't thank them enough for helping me get to this position."
John Syty, Chicago Bears, Southwest Area Scout
On Roschon Johnson:
"This is a young man who has some pretty special qualities. Just in terms of his leadership ability, he's someone who we really feel could probably become a pillar in this organization for a really long time. I feel really strongly about this guy. There's a level of 'it' factor to this kid that the second he walks in the room that (you can) feel. I'm a little bit emotional about this kid, we spent a lot of time with him. (Running backs) Coach (David) Walker went down and visited him at Texas, we worked out a Pro Day; this kid's been through a lot of adversity and there's a reason that we selected him here today. I have a feeling this guy's going to be with us for a really long time. This is a special person and you guys will see that right away."
On Johnson's transition from quarterback to running back:
"It speaks to his intelligence first off more than anything, having the quarterback background in high school and then switching over pretty early on once he got to Texas. They had some injuries pretty early, so we swapped over to running back but it speaks to the resilience, the intelligence and then just the overall work ethic. For us, I mean, the upside hasn't played the position as long as some of the other guys, so, we feel the arrow still continue to trend up with that."
On Johnson's character and work ethic:
"Just the make up with this kid, you guys are going see that it, this human being is wired differently. The more time you spend around him, the more you realize that you're the one who probably has a lot of stuff that you need to work on. Not him. He's that he's that kind of guy. I've been doing this now for five or six years, and just thinking back as we were making that pick, I don't know if I've ever written a guy with higher character than him. And this is a special, special human being. Coming from being an All-State quarterback in high school, then going to Texas and having to sit behind a really good running back. Most kids nowadays look for the easy way out, hit the transfer portal, look for more money and go run from a little bit of adversity. To me, this kid took it head on and took it and ran and now he's going to reap the rewards because of it. And so are we."
On Johnson's fit with the Chicago Bears:
"He fits everything (Chicago General Manager) Ryan (Poles) and (Chicago head coach) Matt (Eberflus) are trying to accomplish. He's a hits principle guy, he just emulates everything we want a Chicago Bear to be. Again, I just can't say it enough, the "it" factor about this kid is special."
On Johnson's role at as a leader at Texas:
"You walk into the building, and you go into the to The University of Texas and they have (running back) Bijan (Robinson), his name is plastered everywhere you, read it on the headlines all summer long. But you walk into that building and they're talking about (Roschon Johnson). So, that's the first sign, before I even go out to practice and see the kid, you walk in and from the liaison the strength coach and trainer, across the board, everyone's singing the same message – this is the hardest working kid in the building. Then you walk out to practice, and you physically see it. You see how the kids built. You see how he goes through his drills and goes about his day. And then I had opportunity to watch him play Alabama and then I saw him play versus Oklahoma as well and everything just aligns, every exposure you have to this kid. Then you get him at the combine, you get him in the Senior Bowl, you get him at Pro Day – every single time it's all the same."
On Johnson's style of play:
"Hard-nosed, fits this division to a tee. Powerful, physical, brakes a lot of tackles. He's one of the higher broken tackle percentage guys that were coming out in this class. He has a lot of hidden-yardage with him. Then you talk just a little bit about the versatility in the pass game snd then the thing that we haven't even hit on that he's best at is special teams. I mean, that's a slam dunk for us. As you put these guys across the draft, he's arguably one of the best special teams players across the board."
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Coming soon to Soldier Field 👀@roschon x @chicagobears pic.twitter.com/DgWS0ecSRu
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 30, 2023
A true Longhorn. Thank you @roschon 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Fw8OdvvFt1
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 30, 2023
Love this energy from @roschon 💯 pic.twitter.com/Aw1FJMzSm7
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 30, 2023
Welcome to the NFL, @roschon 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
🎙️ @Call_In_Johnson x @sehlinger3 pic.twitter.com/4b7apuEM4L
That life changing moment 📱@roschon x @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/gy53u2RCcQ
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Current Mood 😤@roschon x @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/2acTjk7cfQ
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
RoJo can RUN 💨 pic.twitter.com/NVgdCl4jTJ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 29, 2023
Pick 115 comin' at ya from across the pond 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/LB2TKangja
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 29, 2023
Headed to the Windy City 🤘@roschon x @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/0b3bhqijdS
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Hooked 'em from Texas 🤘
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 29, 2023
Welcome to the Windy City, @roschon! pic.twitter.com/j1OLj26m6P
RoJo is going to Chicago!!!@roschon x @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/5wYcJ46KBE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
