SALT LAKE CITY — After being shut out on the first day of the NFL draft, the Utah Utes were well represented on the second when cornerback Jaylon Johnson, free safety Julian Blackmon, running back Zack Moss and strong safety Terrell Burgess were selected.
Johnson was the first to be drafted, going to the Chicago Bears in the second round (50th overall). Shortly thereafter, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley and cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah congratulated Johnson via Twitter.
Scalley said that the Bears “got a flat out baller and a guy that is ready to work and grind his way to greatness.”
Shah’s message included the sentiment: “You demanded excellence from yourself every single day.”
Johnson, an All-American and a two-time first team All-Pac-12 honoree who played the 2019 season with a turn labrum, is quite goal-oriented and has stuck to his plans. He opted to give up his final year of collegiate eligibility to pursue an NFL career, doing so with a degree and plenty of praise.
“Three years ago, Jaylon told me his goals were to get his degree and get drafted in 3 years,” Shah also tweeted “Done and done!! God is truly good.”
“He’s going to transition well to the next level because the things they’re going to ask him to do athletically he can do and mentally he’s already been doing,” Scalley said before the draft.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham added that Johnson, who is 6-foot and 193 pounds, has got the size, speed, fluid hips, ball skills and intelligence to succeed in the NFL.
“He’s the whole package at corner,” Whittingham said.
Two other starters in Utah’s secondary came off the board in the third round. Blackmon went 85th overall to the Indianapolis Colts, while Burgess was taken by the Los Angeles Rams with the 104th pick.
Utah’s offense was also represented on the second day of the draft. Moss was taken by the Buffalo Bills (86th overall) right after Blackmon went to the Colts.
Moss left Utah as the program’s career rushing leader — finishing with 4,167 yards. He is also the only player in team history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone in three seasons. Other records include career all-purpose plays (778), career rushing carries (712), career touchdowns (41), career rushing touchdowns (38), career 100-yard rushing games (18), single-season rushing touchdowns (15) and career 200-yard rushing games (2).
In 2019, Moss led the Pac-12 with 1,416 yards and was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Whittingham noted that Moss has balance and vision with an ability to run inside and outside.
“He can pick up blitzes. He can catch the ball out of the backfield,” Whittingham said earlier this month.”He’s a complete back.”
Andy Ludwig, Utah’s offensive coordinator, also had positive things to say. He said Moss was “as dynamic and explosive as any player I’ve been fortunate to coach.”
The NFL draft concludes Saturday with rounds four through seven.