From the time he got to college two years ago, RJ Johnson has waited for his opportunity.
Now he has it, and the cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes is hoping to make the most of it.
“It’s been tremendous just by being able to come in and just being able to compete with the few injuries (to others in the spring), being able to compete,” Johnson said last month after a Buffs’ spring practice. “Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), coach (Rob) Livingston, coach (Kevin) Mathis instilling trust in me and just trying to build my role on this season, because last year I was kind of mainly special teams.
“So this year I’m starting to be able to develop and take on a bigger role, so I’m pleased with that. I’m trying to make the most of my opportunities.”
The opportunity became even bigger when fellow cornerback Colton Hood, a projected starter, put his name into the NCAA transfer portal on the final day of the spring window, April 25. Johnson’s teammate at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Ga., Hood has since committed to Tennessee.
In fact, three of Johnson’s Eagles Landing teammates — also running back Brandon Hood and offensive lineman Zack Owens — left the Buffs for the transfer portal that same week. If Johnson considered leaving, he didn’t make the deadline and therefore has a golden opportunity at CU.
A converted safety, Johnson made the transition to corner and played well this spring. He is arguably the odds-on favorite to start at corner, with junior DJ McKinney on the other side.
“(The move to corner) kind of transpired last year with some injuries going down in the secondary, like towards the end of the season, and Isaiah Hardge moving over to receiver,” Johnson said. “Coach Livingston and coach Mathis just brought me down and kind of talked to me and was like, ‘Would you be willing to go to corner?’
“I played corner in high school, so it’s more of an easier transition.”
After high school, Johnson went to Arkansas, where he redshirted in 2023. He played in one game for the Razorbacks that season and then transferred to CU last summer. With the Buffs in 2024, Johnson played in 12 games, mostly on special teams.
Playing in a secondary loaded with talent, including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, senior safeties Shilo Sanders and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, nickel Preston Hodge, versatile Carter Stoutmire, and McKinney and Hood, Johnson played just 33 snaps on defense.
He gained valuable experience with the Buffs, however, and finished the year with nine tackles.
“It was great,” he said. “Just being able to be on every special teams, kind of being able to show my versatility. Last year we had a very deep team, so I kind of had to fit in where I could get in. And that’s kind of where I made my mark on was special teams last year.
“I don’t take that lightly. I love special teams. That’s kind of how you’re going to be able to work your way into the (NFL) when you first get in there. So I just want to be able to show I can play all special teams and be able to make an impact for the team last year.”
This year, however, he’s ready for a new role. Hunter is now in the NFL and Hood has moved on, but McKinney and Hodge return. Johnson will also compete with senior Ivan Yates and a trio of transfer additions: Teon Parks (Illinois State), Makari Vickers (Oklahoma) and Noah King (Kansas State).
With experience at safety, Johnson is hoping he’s now a more versatile player that can help at corner.
“Just knowing the outs and ins of the defense, playing safety, it helps a lot with being able to play corner and just being able to be more versatile,” he said. “And, just really by me going on to the next level of showing I can play multiple positions, and (the coaches) instilling that trust in me to be able to go in and do it. So it’s been great.”
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