When Tysheem Johnson first got on the field for spring ball for the Ducks, Lanning was asked about what made him recruit Johnson. Lanning had this to say on Johnson, “he’s a playmaker. He plays with you know, great effort. Physical tackler and has flexibility.” Johnson has lived up to Lanning’s praise and more, enough to earn himself PAC-12 defensive player of the week honors in last week’s huge win at Utah.
Tysheem made the decision to transfer from Ole Miss after two very solid seasons for the Rebs. After a Freshman All-SEC season in 2021 where he appeared in all 13 games with ten starts at safety, Johnson followed that with 13 more games played with 78 tackles.
In his first season with the Ducks Johnson has once again proven to be the model of consistency, starting in every game. An Oregon roster that is loaded with transfer talent on both sides of the ball, fellow DBs Evan Williams and Khyree Jackson, and WRs Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden all have fewer total fantasy points than Johnson according to TPR’s fantasy point system.
Johnson’s 94.40 total FPTS are tops on the team and his 41 tackles are second on the team behind only Fresno State transfer Evan William’s 45. Tysheem’s incredible instincts and quick feet led him to two huge interceptions last week in the 35-6 road victory for the Ducks over Utah. The two picks were enough to earn PAC-12 defensive player of the week along with his QB, Auburn transfer Bo Nix, who won the offensive side.
Lanning bulked up the defensive side of the ball last offseason and it is paying dividends this year. Tysheem Johnson and his teammates are flying around the field, hitting with a sharpness and intensity that has lacked in Oregon defenses of recent years. Tysheem will continue to be a huge part of an Oregon team that controls its own destiny in getting to a PAC-12 championship and a rematch with Washington.
