Scouting Profile: Tez Johnson - WR - Oregon
Sales Pitch: Quick footed receiver who does his best work from the slot but would have to be a historical outlier success story given his size/speed combination.
*Gold Numbers Indicate NCAA T-25 for 2024*
Scouting Report
Tez Johnson is a former 3-Star recruit from Alabama. He spent his first three seasons at Troy, starting 14 games and receiving All-Sun Belt honors twice. Johnson transferred to Oregon prior to the 2023 season, was a two-time All-Conference player and led the Ducks in catches in both years..
Johnson is an undersized slot receiver with outstanding body control and foot speed. He is a smart and technically sound route runner ,who knows how use angles and tempo to set up defenders. Johnson does his best work out of the slot where he can uses head fakes and jab steps to open up defenders hips and cross their face. He is fluid in and out of his breaks on underneath and sharp intermediate cuts. His body control allows him stay at his top speed as he changes direction as a route runner. Johnson was leaned on heavily to create after the catch at Oregon. He is smooth out of the catch point to transition to being a runner, with the quickness to make the first tackler miss. An excellent punt returner as well, Johnson’s vision and awareness as a ball carrier allows him to maximize yards after the catch.
If Johnson is to succeed at the next level, he will have to be a historical outlier. He is extremely small at 155 pounds, with average speed - 4.51 40-yard dash - putting a heavy burden on his quickness and route running. Johnson is far too small to play on the outside at the next level, as he is easily ridden off his mark by press coverage and reroutes. Man coverage corners that are able to get their hands on and gain leverage on him are easily able to stymie his reps. Johnson had a career low drop rate of 4% in 2024, but isn’t a natural catcher of the football. He has short arms and small hands which create difficulties for him when asked to bring in passes outside his frame. There are a lot of catches on his tape where he double clutches and almost gets it jarred from his grasp. Despite his punt return background, Johnson’s lack of top end speed or tackle breaking ability will make it hard for him to absorb significant designed touches at the next level.
Johnson profiles best as a primary punt return who takes on a WR3/4 role in the slot. The quickness and route running savvy are intriguing traits, but teams will have a hard time betting on a player with his size/speed profile. Johnson projects as a Day-3 pick primarily for his return ability.