The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2013 Football Roster
Roster
Daje Johnson
- Position:
- WR/RB
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Pflugerville, Texas
- High School:
- Hendrickson
A four-year player who served as a running back/wide receiver and was a prolific kick and punt returner … played in 38 career games with 17 starts … on the UT career lists, ranked tied for fourth in kickoff returns (44), seventh in kickoff return yards (976), 10th in kickoff return average (22.2) and eighth in punt return yards (396) … also finished with 85 receptions for 873 yards and three TDs, along with 58 rushes for 459 yards and two TDs to equal 2,704 all-purpose yards on 231 attempts … had 10 career plays of 45 or more yards, including four scores of 65-plus yards … only player in school history with a punt return and rush of at least 80 yards (84-yard TD run vs. Baylor, 2012; two 85-yard punt returns for TDs vs. Oklahoma in 2013/vs. Rice in 2015) … one of just three UT players with a punt return of 60 or more yards and rush of 80-plus yards (also James Saxton and Raymond Clayborn) … his two punt returns for TDs are tied for fourth on the UT career list … the 85 yards on those returns is tied for fourth-longest in UT history … 2015 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection … an all-state, all-area and two-time all-district performer in high school.
SENIOR (2015)
Honorable mention All-Big 12 as a KR/PR by the league’s coaches … named second-team All-Big 12 as a KR/PR by ESPN.com … played in 11 games with eight starts, but left the TCU game during the first offensive possession and missed the Oklahoma game due to an injury … on the UT single-season lists, ranked fourth in kickoff return yards (528), tied for fourth in kickoff returns (22) and ninth in kickoff return average (24.0 ypr) … the 24.0 average also ranked fourth in the Big 12 and 38th in the nation … led the Big 12 and ranked 21st in the nation in punt return average (10.7 ypr) … doubled his career total with five plays of 45 or more yards … posted six games with 100 or more all-purpose yards, including four with more than 150 … opened the season with six catches at Notre Dame that would be a season high he would match in two other games … posted 60 kickoff return yards on three attempts and totaled 112 all-purpose yards against the Irish … named Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week following the Rice game for his 119 punt return yards, including an 85-yard TD return (tied for fourth-longest in UT history), and 35 yards on kickoff returns for 154 all-purpose yards … the 119 punt return yards were a single-game season high for any player in the Big 12 … combined with Duke Thomas in the Rice game to set a UT single-game record of 175 punt return yards … set a career high with 145 receiving yards on five catches, including a long of 54 yards versus Cal … it marked the only game during the season he did not have a punt or kickoff return … turned around to return four kickoffs for 101 yards and three punts for 36 yards en route to 152 all-purpose yards against Oklahoma State … returned from injury against Kansas State to match his season high of six catches for 41 yards with two kickoff returns for 45 yards … also caught six passes at Iowa State for 37 yards while totaling 83 all-purpose yards … registered 51 all-purpose yards versus Kansas … pulled in four passes for 76 yards, including a 36-yarder, and one TD at West Virginia … set a career highs in both all-purpose yards (197) and kickoff return yards (148), including a season-long 54-yard kickoff return, along with 46 punt return yards against Texas Tech … tallied three receptions for 51 yards and one kickoff return for 52 yards leading to 105 all-purpose yards at Baylor.
JUNIOR (2014)
Played in six games (Baylor, Texas Tech, WVU, Oklahoma St., TCU, Arkansas) with one start (Arkansas) ... saw his first action of the season against Baylor ... recorded one carry for 5 yards ... missed the Oklahoma, Iowa State and Kansas State games due to a hamstring injury ... returned to action against Texas Tech and recorded two carries for 43 yards ... had two carries for 24 yards against West Virginia .. ran two times for 16 yards against Oklahoma State ... had three catches and returned four kickoffs for a career-high 98 yards (24.5 avg.) against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl.
Played in nine games with six starts (New Mexico State, BYU, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, and Baylor) ... ranked third on the team in all-purpose yards (84.1 per game) and fourth in receptions (24) ... led the team with 172 punt return yards ... averaged 10.8 yards per punt return ... posted 139 all-purpose yards (62 rushing/67 receiving/10 punt returns) vs. New Mexico State ... had a pair of scores, one on a 66-yard reception and another on a 24-yard rush, earning him the team’s offensive player of the game award ... posted two rushes for 4 yards against BYU before leaving the game due to an ankle injury ... did not play against Ole Miss and Kansas State due to the injury sustained against BYU ... registered two receptions for 25 yards and three kickoff returns for 47 yards vs. Iowa State ... had six carries for 9 yards and five punt returns for 124 yards, including a 85-yard touchdown, against Oklahoma ... his 85-yard TD punt return is the fourth longest in Texas history and the longest since 2005 when Aaron Ross returned a punt for 88 yards against Missouri ... notched a career-high 152 all-purpose yards (6 rushing/46 receiving/75 kick returns/25 punt returns), including a career-high seven receptions, vs. Kansas ... shared the UT special teams player of the game award with Leroy Scott and Adrian Colbert for his play against Kansas ... registered 135 all-purpose yards (28 receiving/87 kick returns/ 20 punt returns), including a career-high four kick returns, against West Virginia ... posted one reception for 1 yard, two carries for 12 yards, and three kick returns for 39 yards vs. Oklahoma State ... did not play vs. Texas Tech ... had two rushes for 19 yards and receptions for 10 yards against Baylor ... did not see action vs. Oregon.
FRESHMAN (2012)
Played as a reserve running back and on special teams in 12 games, including starts against Baylor and Kansas ... averaged 11.5 yards per touch ... averaged 7.5 yards per rush, which was tops on the team among players with at least 20 carries ... one of two freshmen in school history to post a rush and reception of 70 yards or more in the same season (also Eric Metcalf, 1985) ... did not play in the season opener vs. Wyoming ... had one carry for 4 yards and caught three passes for 66 yards, including 45-yard touchdown on a shovel pass from David Ash vs. New Mexico ... posted two receptions for 15 yards and three kickoff returns for 58 yards, including a 21-yarder against Ole Miss ... had four receptions for 45 yards vs. Oklahoma State ... recorded two carries for 8 yards and caught one pass for 46 yards against West Virginia ... posted four carries for 41 yards, including a 29 yard run, and one reception for 12 yards vs. Oklahoma ... had a season-best kickoff return of 25 yards against the Sooners ... recorded seven carries for 90 yards, including a career-long 84-yard TD on the opening play of the game, and two receptions for 14 yards vs. Baylor ... it was the eighth-longest rush in school history and longest since Jamaal Charles went 86 yards for a touchdown vs. Nebraska (2007) ... also the second longest by a freshman in school history (Raymond Clayborn - 85-yard TD run vs. Arkansas in 1973) ... had a season-high with 104 all-purpose yards vs. the Bears ... registered four carries for 18 yards vs. Texas Tech ... had three carries for 15 yards against Iowa State ... posted two carries for 14 yards vs. TCU ... recorded one carry for 14 yards and a season-high five receptions for 85 yards, including a 70 yarder, against Kansas State ... became just the second freshman in school history to post a rush and pass reception of 70 yards or more in a season ... Eric Metcalf had an 80-yard TD catch vs. Rice in 1985 before scoring on a 71-yard run vs. TCU.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Chip Killian at Hendrickson ... an all-state, all-area and two-time all-district performer at multiple position … selected to play in the 2012 International Bowl … a member of ESPNU’s top 150 national prospects … ranked as the 14th-best athlete and 141st-best overall prospect by ESPNU … rushed for 2,976 yards and 34 TDs, caught 38 passes for 649 yards and six TDs and tallied two kickoff returns for TDs and three punt returns for TDs, helping Hendrickson post a 14-9 record over his final two seasons … ranked first overall at the Nike SPARQ Combine prior to his senior season, setting the all-time SPARQ score … a first-team All-Centex selection by the Austin American-Statesman as a senior … a third-team Preseason Super Team selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … named second-team all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association at running back while earning third-team honors at kick returner … named second-team all-state by the Associated Press … named the District 16-4A MVP … helped lead Hendrickson to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs … rushed for 2,178 yards and 26 TDs on 249 carries (8.7 ypc), while catching 28 passes for 496 yards (17.7 ypr) and six TDs with one punt return TD as a senior … rushed for 395 yards on 18 carries against Vista Ridge that season … a second-team All-District 16-4A selection as a junior … helped lead Hendrickson to an appearance in the first round of the state playoffs … rushed for 798 yards and eight TDs on 71 carries (11.2 ypc), while pulling in 10 receptions for 153 yards with two kickoff returns for TDs and two punt returns for TDs … also had 14 PBUs and one pick … rushed for 2,400 yards as a freshman with 32 total TDs … ran track until his junior year along with playing basketball as a freshman.
PERSONAL
Born in Camp Lejuene, N.C. … has also lived in Swansboro, N.C., Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., Manhattan, Kan., Chicago, Dallas and Alexandria, Va. … father, Clyde, played defensive back for Kansas State (1994-96) before playing for the Kansas City Chiefs (1997) and Chicago Bears (1998) … has volunteered at the Texas Public Library … majored in applied learning and development … member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2014).
JOHNSON'S CAREER STATISTICS
2012
| Opponent | Rush | Yards | Long | TD | Rec | Yards | Long | TD |
| Wyoming | DNP | |||||||
| New Mexico | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 45 | 1 |
| Ole Miss | 2 | -3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 0 |
| Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 4 | 45 | 17 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 46 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 41 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Baylor | 7 | 90 | 84 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Kansas | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Texas Tech | 4 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Iowa State | 3 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| TCU | 2 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Kansas State | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 85 | 70 | 0 |
| Oregon State | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
2013
| Opponent | Rush | Yards | Long | TD | Rec | Yards | Long | TD |
| New Mexico St. | 6 | 62 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 67 | 66 | 1 |
| BYU | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Ole Miss | DNP | |||||||
| Kansas State | DNP | |||||||
| Iowa State | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 2 | 25 | 18 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 6 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| TCU | 1 | -2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 12 | 0 |
| Kansas | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 16 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 7 | 28 | 12 | 0 |
| Oklahoma State | 2 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Texas Tech | DNP | |||||||
| Baylor | 2 | 19 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 0 |
| Oregon | DNP |
2014
| Opponent | Rush | Yards | Long | TD | Rec | Yards | Long | TD |
| North Texas | DNP | |||||||
| BYU | DNP | |||||||
| UCLA | DNP | |||||||
| Kansas | DNP | |||||||
| Baylor | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Oklahoma | DNP | |||||||
| Iowa State | DNP | |||||||
| Kansas State | DNP | |||||||
| Texas Tech | 2 | 43 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| Oklahoma State | 2 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 1 | (-5) | (-5) | 0 |
| TCU | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 1 | (-2) | (-2) | 0 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
2015
| Opponent | Rush | Yards | Long | TD | Rec | Yards | Long | TD |
| Notre Dame | 2 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 45 | 20 | 0 |
| Rice | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 |
| California | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 145 | 54 | 0 |
| Oklahoma State | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| TCU | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | DNP | |||||||
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 6 | 41 | 14 | 0 |
| Iowa State | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 37 | 18 | 0 |
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 4 | 76 | 36 | 1 |
| Texas Tech | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Baylor | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | 3 | 51 | 24 | 0 |
RUSHING/RECEIVING
| Year | G/GS | Rush | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long | Rec | Yards | Avg. | TD | Long |
| 2012 | 12/2 | 27 | 203 | 7.5 | 1 | 84/BU | 19 | 287 | 15.1 | 1 | 70/KSU |
| 2013 | 9/6 | 24 | 147 | 5.8 | 1 | 24/NMS | 24 | 178 | 7.4 | 1 | 66/NMS |
| 2014 | 6/1 | 7 | 88 | 12.6 | 0 | 30/TT | 5 | (-7) | (-1.4) | 0 | 11/ARK |
| 2015 | 11/8 | 6 | 28 | 4.7 | 0 | 9/2x | 37 | 415 | 11.2 | 1 | 54/Cal |
| Total | 38/17 | 64 | 459 | 7.2 | 2 | 84/BU | 85 | 873 | 10.3 | 3 | 70/KSU |
ALL-PURPOSE
| Year | G | Rush-Yds | Rec-Yds | KRet | PRet | Att-Total | Per/Play | Per/G | High |
| 2012 | 12 | 27-203 | 19-287 | 4-83 | 0-0 | 50-573 | 11.5 | 47.8 | 104/BU |
| 2013 | 9 | 24-140 | 24-178 | 14-267 | 16-172 | 78-757 | 9.8 | 84.9 | 152/KU |
| 2014 | 6 | 7-88 | 5-(-7) | 4-98 | 0-0 | 16-179 | 11.2 | 29.8 | 98/ARK |
| 2015 | 11 | 6-28 | 37-415 | 22-528 | 21-224 | 86-1,195 | 13.9 | 108.6 | 197/TT |
| Total | 38 | 64-459 | 86-873 | 44-976 | 37-396 | 231-2,704 | 11.7 | 71.2 | 197/TT |
SPECIAL TEAMS
| Year | G | PR-Yds | YPR | TD | Long | KR-Yds | YPR | TD | Long |
| 2012 | 12 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | --- | 4-83 | 20.8 | 0 | 25/OU |
| 2013 | 9 | 16-172 | 10.8 | 1 | 85/OU | 14-267 | 20.7 | 0 | 40/KU |
| 2014 | 6 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0/OU | 4-98 | 24.5 | 0 | 30/ARK |
| 2015 | 11 | 21-224 | 10.7 | 1 | 85/Rice | 22-528 | 24.0 | 0 | 54/TT |
| Total | 38 | 37-396 | 10.7 | 2 | 85/2x | 44-976 | 22.2 | 0 | 54/TT |
CAREER HIGHS
Rush attempts: 7, vs. Baylor (Fr.)
Rush yards: 90, vs. Baylor (Fr.)
Longest rush: 84t, vs. Baylor (Fr.)
Receptions: 7, two times, vs. Kansas (So.) and at West Virginia (So.)
Receiving yards: 145, vs. Cal (Sr.)
Longest reception: 70, at Kansas State (Fr.)
Receiving TDs: 1, three times, last at West Virginia (Sr.)
Kick returns: 5, vs. Texas Tech (Sr.)
Kickoff return yards: 148, vs. Texas Tech (Sr.)
Longest kickoff return: 54, vs. Texas Tech (Sr.)
Punt returns: 5, vs. Oklahoma (So.)
Punt return yards: 124, vs. Oklahoma (So.)
