Jaylon Johnson Expected To Shut Down Top WR Talent Against ASU
Oct 17, 2019, 3:14 PM | Updated: 3:15 pm
Wide receiver N'Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs with the football after a reception against defensive back Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Utah Utes during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Football fans should expect to see Jaylon Johnson in a similar position as last week – shutting down a top-talent wide receiver.
Utah’s defense is filled with NFL talent – from Leki Fotu and Bradlee Anae on the defensive line to Francis Bernard at linebacker and Julian Blackmon at safety, but Johnson may be the first Ute taken in next year’s NFL Draft.
Lockdown corners are hard to come by in the college game, although, fortunately for the Utes and Kyle Whittingham they do not have to look any further than their own Johnson when it comes to shutting down opposing teams marquee pass catcher.
Textbook from Jaylon Johnson! 🙌#goutes #UTAHvsOSU pic.twitter.com/u5wNfm2hU7
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 13, 2019
Last week in Corvallis, Oregon Johnson went stride for stride with the Beavers best receiver Isaiah Hodgins. Johnson limited Hodgins to his worst game of the season and ultimately suffocated the Beavers passing attack.
This week, Johnson will be tasked with taking on Arizona State’s best receiver – Brandon Aiyuk. If last week was any indicator, one would assume Johnson will follow his every move.
Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Senior-of-the-Week is @ASUFootball WR Brandon Aiyuk (@THE2ERA) who had 7 Catches for 196 yards and 3TDs in their 38-34 win vs WSU. #PT42 #WordsandActions #ForksUp #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/aJdDpwqXgi
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) October 14, 2019
Aiyuk’s numbers are impressive. His 31 receptions for 651 yards and 5 touchdowns is good enough to rank him second in the conference, only behind Isaiah Hodgins.
It seems as though the defensive gameplan for Utah has changed and the traditional concept of playing press-man coverage on the outside with one cornerback playing the left side of the field while the other plays the right is no longer the norm. Especially when the Utes come across marquee pass catchers.
If Johnson can get the better of Aiyuk his draft stock will increase drastically and opposing teams will have to find other avenues to the endzone.
