SALT LAKE CITY — Catch him if you can. Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s days with the Utes may be numbered. He’s hoping to leave for the NFL after one more season of college ball.
“That’s my goal,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to keep continuing to make plays, and if that time presents itself and it tells that I need to leave, then I will not hesitate to leave.”
As the 17th-ranked Utes gear up for the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 31 against Northwestern, Johnson is putting the finishing touches on a stellar campaign that netted the sophomore first-team all-conference recognition from the Pac-12. His four interceptions put him in a tie for the league lead.
After returning a pick 100 yards for a score against Stanford, Johnson’s speed and skill set were praised by Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.
“He’s a tremendously gifted athlete,” Whittingham said. “It was a perfect call in that it was a red zone coverage where he can play aggressively outside technique because he’s got inside help.”
An underthrown ball added to what proved to be the perfect storm.
“He stole it and was out of the gate,” Whittingham said.
The 2018 campaign has proven to a breakout season for Johnson. Besides the interceptions, he has 40 tackles, four pass breakups, two tackles for loss and one sack.
“I feel like I’ve drastically improved from my freshman year to this year and am just being more consistent in my technique and becoming more aggressive in tackling and being able to make more plays as I did this year — just keep making steps and just keep progressing is what I’m trying to do right now,” Johnson said.
The 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back from Fresno, California, has stepped up in big games throughout his career at Utah. As a freshman, he had an interception in a 19-13 win over rival BYU. This year, picks came against Stanford, USC, Arizona State and Colorado.
“It’s everything I ever dreamed for and asked for. I came here with one purpose and that was to play early and have an impact, and I’ve done that so far,” said Johnson, who added that having fun with the guys around him, making plays and winning games is really exciting and everything he could ask for at Utah.
Whittingham acknowledged that having shutdown corners like Johnson and Julian Blackmon are great weapons to have in the arsenal. Both players were named all-conference. Johnson was among a school-record nine first-team selections. Overall, the Utes had 10 of 11 defensive starters earning some sort of recognition. He said that everyone has just been trying to be consistent and doing what the coaches ask.
The Utes (9-4) claimed the Pac-12 South title for the first time and advanced to the conference championship game.
“Hopefully we’re on an incline — just keep pushing, keep getting better every day and every week and just showing the country what we can do,” Johnson said.
That includes a good showing in the Holiday Bowl.
“We’re kind of motivated that we’re not in the Rose Bowl,” Johnson said. “So we’re definitely going to take it out on Northwestern in San Diego and just try to enjoy it as a team and enjoy the seniors on their last ride.”
Whittingham said it was evident that Johnson was a special player when they recruited him.
“He’s proven to be just that,” Whittingham said. “And to be an All-Pac-12 first-team selection as a true sophomore, he’s pretty special.”
Johnson also excels in the classroom. He has a 3.62 grade point average in business and received first-team all-academic honors from the Pac-12.
“It doesn’t, honestly, mean anything to me,” Johnson said. “I’ve been doing it my whole life — being a student-athlete as my parents raised me to be.”
On the field, though, Johnson’s collegiate numbers have risen. The former high school All-American was banged up in his first season with the Utes. He played in 10 games as a freshman, making 25 tackles and one interception.
“He was healthy this year,” Whittingham said. “What you saw out of him this year was hopefully a precursor of even better things to come.”
Johnson is also stepping forward as a leader. After Utah’s 10-3 loss to Washington in the Pac-12 championship game, he sent a message to folks on Twitter concerning the outcome. It read: “stop talking about the no call for PI the dam(n) game is over. We had our chance to make plays and we didn’t. That game was not controlled by the refs.”
Johnson’s evolution as player has impressed Utah’s other starting cornerback.
“Jaylon is a superstar, man,” said Blackmon, who added that Johnson was “his little brother coming in” and came in great as a proven lockdown corner.
“I love playing with him,” Blackmon said. “I love it.”
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SDCCU Holiday Bowl
No. 22 Northwestern (8-5) vs. No. 17 Utah (9-4)
SDCCU Stadium — San Diego
Dec. 31, 5 p.m. MST
TV: FS1
Radio: ESPN 700AM