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After making a strong impression as the starting strong safety in his sophomore season, Jamel Johnson stunned TCU football fans when he entered the transfer portal in December.
Johnson was a four-star recruit out of Arlington Seguin who signed with the Horned Frogs in the class of 2023. He had 73 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble while helping TCU go 9-4 last season.
Why would a local kid who was starting want to leave after a successful season? Ultimately, Johnson withdrew his name from the portal a little over two weeks after he entered it.
That decision appears to be paying off, as Johnson is having a breakout junior season. He leads the Horned Frogs with four interceptions and 36 solo tackles and is third on the team with 55 total tackles. Johnson’s early performance led to him earning second-team midseason Associated Press All-America honors.
Johnson said he always envisioned receiving accolades like that when he signed with TCU out of high school.
“It means a lot to me because that’s something I talked about going into the season,” Johnson said. “Becoming an All-American, that’s the highest of the high. I just want to keep going, keep stacking and finishing strong.”
The Horned Frogs (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) play at West Virginia (2-5, 0-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday in Morgantown.
When Johnson entered his name into the portal Dec. 2, it didn’t take long for schools to show interest. Prominent programs like Michigan and Ole Miss were reportedly among those recruiting him.
The offers he received were alluring, but there was something about Fort Worth that made Johnson reconsider.
“It was just all God,” Johnson said. “I was in the portal, I had a lot of big-time offers, but something didn’t feel right. I decided to come back, and when [safeties coach] Tre [Watson] ended up coming here … that was a blessing for me. Everything ended up just working out.”
The arrival of Watson, who recruited Johnson at Cal, came a month after Johnson opted to return to the program.
One of the biggest catalysts for Johnson’s decision was a conversation he had with his mother.
“I’m a big family guy, so it was big for her to be able to see me play,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want her having to go too far and spending all this money just to watch. It was really just about her being able to see me play and cheer me on.”
TCU glad to have Jamel Johnson back
The entire program, especially head coach Sonny Dykes, breathed a sigh of relief when Johnson returned. The Horned Frogs had already lost one four-star safety from that 2023 signing class when Randon Fontenette transferred to Vanderbilt after the 2023 season, and losing another would’ve been a critical blow to the future of the defense.
“I’m glad to see Jamel come back,” Dykes said in December. “When he came and sat down with me, I didn’t quite understand why he was doing what he was doing. I was disappointed, so I’m glad he had a chance to reconsider.”
Johnson didn’t just decide to come back to TCU, he also wanted to take his game to the next level, and that development has played a vital role in Johnson becoming one of the best safeties in the country.
In 2024, Johnson was known more for his ability in run support. He had four games with eight tackles, including 11 stops in games against Central Florida and Stanford, which was his first career start.
But Johnson wanted to be a complete playmaker and became more intentional with how he approached the game mentally.
“Who JJ is this year compared to last year is unbelievable,” defensive coordinator Andy Avalos said. “His growth, his commitment, his care factor about how he learns and how he details and processes are way different. It shows on the field. It shows on the practice field even with the way he practiced today. He cares about doing things right every day.”
Evolving his game and mental approach
Johnson had many of these physical boxes already checked like speed, toughness and his overall tackling ability. Those traits are enough to be a good safety.
But Johnson wanted to be great, and that meant leaning more into preparation and his approach to detail. It’s not flashy, but it’s often the difference between a good player and an All-American.
“He’s more tuned in on plays, watching film, doing the small things right,” safety Bud Clark said after Johnson had an interception in TCU’s win over Colorado. “I feel like him doing those things is a compliment to his game.”
Being more intentional about his mental approach wasn’t just about becoming a better football player, it was also about his maturation.
“The little things were a big jump for me because I feel like that was the next step in me growing as a man and as a player,” Johnson said. “Me doing the little things, watching extra film, getting in extra work and talking to players means a lot to me because that’s what I feel like makes me grow and helps on the field.”
Johnson credits the arrival of Watson with his growth as a playmaker.
“I just wanted to get my hands on the ball [more], and when Coach Tre came in, he helped me with my fundamentals and my technique,” Johnson said. “Just attacking the ball in the offseason, doing fundamental drills and just buying into the program made a difference this offseason.”
With a more cerebral approach to the game, Johnson is developing into a high IQ safety who causes havoc in the run game and can also be disruptive in coverage.
The fact that he’s become this type of player despite starting less than two full seasons isn’t a surprise to most around the program, including cornerback Vernon Glover.
“That’s my dog, man. Ever since freshman year, I knew he was going to be a ballplayer,” Glover said. “It’s what he does every day. He comes in and works. Even when he was a freshman, he had a different urgency to him. This is what he prepares himself for with the way he just locks in and the way he loves the game. [He] shows up for us every Saturday.”
Johnson’s versatility as a run stopper and now a playmaking ball hawk will be crucial to TCU finishing the season strong, starting with Saturday’s matchup at West Virginia.
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