Summary

Chris Johnson (21 years old) is a cornerback who has played his entire college career at San Diego State with no transfers. In 2025, Johnson started throughout the season and posted 48 total tackles (34 solo), eight pass breakups, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and one sack, adding 146 interception-return yards with two defensive touchdowns while anchoring the Aztecs’ secondary. His standout 2025 campaign earned him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Mountain West honors, along with national recognition that included second-team All-America accolades. Johnson has maintained solid academic standing and is widely viewed as a steady, detail-oriented worker whose game is built on patience at the line, route recognition, and competitive toughness, with no publicly reported significant off-field incidents. Coaches and teammates consistently praise his professionalism and week-to-week consistency, and he’s known for embracing film study and preparation as a separator. From an injury standpoint, he has been notably reliable, with no publicly documented major injuries causing extended absences, reinforcing his dependability as a starting-caliber cover corner.

Strengths

You Better Recognize: Processes concepts quickly and puts himself in position early, allowing him to undercut throws and disrupt timing with elite recognition skills. Uses his frame to crowd windows and contest throws, making routine targets feel tighter.
Ball Disruptor: Consistently impacts the catch point with breakups and takeaways, showing a knack for finishing plays on the ball. Aggressive in a controlled way—hunts the football and looks to turn passes defended into turnovers.
Man, Zone, Whatever: Comfortable playing with eyes on the QB in off/zone looks while also holding up in tighter man situations. Plays through hands, times swipes well, and challenges receivers without conceding easy completions.
Break Fluid: Opens, flips, and drives cleanly out of pedal, staying connected through verticals and breaking routes. Avoids panicking at the stem, stays square longer, and forces receivers to declare before committing.

Weaknesses

Run (Lack of) Support: Can be less impactful vs the run than vs the pass, with room to improve force/fit reliability on the perimeter. Will occasionally arrive a half-beat off balance or rely on contact rather than clean wrap-and-drive technique.
Bullied: Bigger receivers can create separation with contact, and he can be displaced when blockers get into him.
Hand Fighting: Needs better hand usage and leverage to disengage from receiver stalk blocks and keep outside leverage. If he loses the first step, he isn’t always able to fully erase the rep without help from the sideline or safety.
Grabagool: When stressed late in the rep, can flirt with holding/hand fighting that draws flags at the next level. Vertical speed threats can test his ability to stay “stacked” downfield if they win early.

Outlook

Johnson projects as a long, fluid boundary corner with easy acceleration, competitive ball skills, and the recovery speed to stay in phase downfield, giving him upside as a true outside starter at the next level. He fits best in press-man and match-heavy coverage schemes that allow him to use his length at the line, disrupt timing, and carry vertical routes, while still offering enough zone awareness to function in Cover 3 or quarters-based systems. Johnson currently projects as an end of day one/early day two with the ceiling to sneak into late Round 1 conversation.

Pro Comparison: Jaylon Johnson

Team Fits: DAL, SF, LAR, NYJ, TEN

Report written by Filip Prus