Mobile, Alabama. Tez Johnson is aware that any discussion regarding his NFL possibility starts with his size.
The former Oregon wide receiver was among the lightest on record at the all-star game, standing 5′ 9 1/4″ and weighing 156 pounds at this week’s Senior Bowl. For those who seen Johnson’s explosiveness for the Ducks and Troy, it was scarcely surprising that he won every one-on-one rep he took and easily created space during the three days of practice.
However, in a league consisting of bigger, stronger, and faster opponents, endurance becomes an obvious issue because few NFL players are so light.
Johnson, who in 12 games this season had 13 punt returns for 155 yards and a touchdown and 83 receptions for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns, stated he has a strategy for dealing with the physical demands of the NFL.
You’ve obviously been watching me for the past two years. How many hits am I taking? “Not much,” answered Johnson. I am certainly aware of that, but we are football players, not bodybuilders. You must learn the game.
There are many men out there who will be hit and bruised. 6-4 males are subjected to a lot of hits, but they quickly wear off due to wear and tear. I am certain that I have a strategy to succeed in the NFL, and I am fully aware of it.
Those who witnessed Johnson’s two seasons at Oregon are fully aware of what he’s talking about. When there was open field, he was prepared to take chances to make spectacular plays, but he frequently slipped or went out of bounds to avoid huge hits. He caught nine passes for 30 yards or more in 2023, including six for 40 yards or more.
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Johnson stated that he looks up to Seattle Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (5-foot-10, 182 pounds), LA Rams receiver Cooper Kupp (6-foot-2, 207 pounds), and Houston Texans wide out Tank Dell (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) as role models.
Johnson has almost a month until this year’s NFL combine to put on weight and perhaps return to the 165 pounds he listed at UO. However, Tutu Atwell, who was selected by the LA Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, was the last non-specialist player to weigh less than 160 pounds at the combine.
–The Oregon Ducks and Big Ten are covered by James Crepea. Get the Ducks Roundup email or listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast.
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