Chris Johnson Jr. News, Rumors, Updates - SMU Mustangs

Heading to Clemson Johnson has committed to play for Clemson for the 2026 season, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.

Impact Johnson will join the Tigers following a single season with SMU. The 6-foot running back ran for 479 yards and four touchdowns on 7.1 YPC for the Mustangs in 2025, adding 17 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown through the air as well. The speedster back will retain two years of eligibility with Clemson moving forward.

JANUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Leaving Dallas Johnson will enter the transfer portal, per Max Olson of The Athletic.

Impact Johnson, who transferred to SMU from Miami (FL) this offseason, was very solid in 2025. The tailback ran for 471 yards and four touchdowns on an explosive 7.1 yards per carry, while catching 17 passes for 180 yards and one score. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, the gifted halfback should have no shortage of interest in the transfer portal.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Huge game in loss Johnson accrued 10 rushes for 128 yards and one touchdown and reeled in 1 of 2 targets for three yards during Saturday's 38-35 defeat against California.

Impact Johnson split carries evenly with TJ Harden, but he nearly tripled Harden's rushing output. Johnson shook loose for a 54-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter, marking his fourth rushing touchdown of the campaign. The third-year tailback ends the regular season with 62 carries for 463 yards while catching 16 passes for 176 yards.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Limited in win Johnson (undisclosed) logged six kick return yards and didn't receive a carry during Saturday's 45-13 victory versus Boston College.

Impact Johnson was previously listed as questionable for the contest, and while he suited up, the tailback didn't see his typical allotment of rushes. Johnson had rushed 23 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns while adding eight catches for 83 yards and a score across his last four outings.

NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time decision Saturday Johnson (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Saturday's contest at Boston College.

Impact Johnson's status has still not been decided despite kickoff being less than two hours away, so his availability will be determined in pregame warmups. Johnson has had a productive season as the Mustangs' No. 2 back, so he would be missed if he's unable to go.

NOVEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable against BC Johnson (undisclosed) has been listed as questionable on SMU's initial injury report.

Impact Johnson appears to be dealing with a lingering issue that has threatened his absence from the Mustangs' last few games. The 6-foot redshirt sophomore, who was limited to just nine snaps last weekend against Miami, has logged 46 carries for 316 yards and three scores on the ground, along with 14 receptions for 163 yards and a score through the air on the season (nine games). Johnson's status will continue to be monitored throughout the week.

NOVEMBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Saturday Johnson (undisclosed) is expected to play in Saturday's game versus Miami, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Johnson was listed as a game-time call for the contest, but it appears he will provide some additional depth in the backfield Saturday, aiming to add to his 42 carries for 314 yards and three scores along with his 13 catches for 163 yars on the season.

NOVEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time decision for Week 10 Johnson (undisclosed) is a game-time decision for Saturday's game against Miami.

Impact Johnson's game availability will be pushed to the wire. Miami is a top team, and the running back's recent form suggests SMU will want him available. In his last three games, Johnson logged that many touchdowns with 19 rushing attempts and seven receptions for 267 yards from scrimmage.

NOVEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable versus Miami Johnson (undisclosed) is questionable for Saturday's game versus Miami.

Impact Johnson popped up on Thursday's injury report and his status for Saturday's game is now in question. He has been very productive as TJ Harden's backup, totaling 477 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage so far this season. If he can't go, Derrick McFall would likely see an increase in playing time.

OCTOBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

San Diego State cornerback on midseason All-American teams San Diego State’s football team continues to attract attention from the college football world. Senior cornerback Chris Johnson has been nam...

OCTOBER 20, 2025 • SI.COM

NFL Draft Watch: Rising Stars in the 2025 Draft Class You Need To Know | Deadspin.com As the 2025 college football season hits midseason, five rising draft prospects are turning heads. From Taylen Green to Chris Johnson, here’...

OCTOBER 20, 2025 • DEADSPIN.COM

Another outstanding game Johnson compiled six rushes for 59 yards and one touchdown and hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 40 yards during Saturday's 35-24 win against Clemson.

Impact Johnson has been a near-constant big-play threat over the last two weeks. He rushed five times for 96 yards and a score while also catching two passes for 42 yards and a TD in Week 7 and had another breakout game in Week 8. The redshirt sophomore averaged nearly 10 yards per carry and scored one of SMU's two rushing touchdowns while falling one yard short of 100 yards from scrimmage. Through seven games, Johnson is averaging 8.4 yards per carry and 13.5 yards per catch.

OCTOBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Another outstanding game Johnson compiled six rushes for 59 yards and one touchdown and hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 40 yards during Saturday's 35-24 win against Clemson.

OCTOBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Jennings throws 2 TD passes as SMU avenges ACC title game loss to Clemson, 35-24

Kevin Jennings threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns, Chris Johnson Jr. scored on a game-clinching 6-yard touchdown run and SMU defeated Clemson 35-24 on Saturday to avenge last y...

OCTOBER 18, 2025 • Associated Press

Scores on ground, through air Johnson had five rushes for 96 yards and one touchdown and caught all two targets for 42 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 34-10 victory over Stanford.

Impact Johnson totaled 138 yards from scrimmage on seven touches, scoring on an 87-yard run and a 42-yard pass during the contest. He hasn't seen more than six carries in a game this season, but he's caught at least one pass in five straight contests and is averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

OCTOBER 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

SMU welcomes game-changing boost as two unlikely heroes lift Mustangs over Stanford When SMU needed key players to step up, Chris Johnson Jr. and Justin Medlock answered the call.

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Chris Johnson scores twice and SMU gets 96-yard pick-6 in 34-10 win over Stanford

Chris Johnson Jr. ran for an 87-yard touchdown and took a short pass 42 yards for a score after a nifty escape from quarterback Kevin Jennings as SMU beat Stanford 34-10

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • Associated Press

No. 17 SMU matches up against Baylor in Week 2

The No. 17 SMU Mustangs take on the Baylor Bears

SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Effective on limited carries Johnson tallied six carries for 44 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 42-13 win versus East Texas A&M.

Impact Johnson, Derrick McFall and TJ Harden operated in a three-man committee, all finishing between six and nine carries. Despite handling the fewest carries of the bunch, Johnson led the team in rushes and was the only tailback to score. Johnson's TD came on a 22-yard rush early in the second quarter. With all three running backs healthy, the SMU RB room is one to avoid in fantasy.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Headed for committee role Coach Kyle Cooper indicated Tuesday that Johnson will be in the rotation of a running back committee for the 2025 season, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports

Impact Johnson joins SMU after two years with the Hurricanes in search of more playing opportunity. The redshirt sophomore running back is set to be included in the mix for the running back committee and will split work with TJ Harden, Derrick McFall and Dramekco Green.

AUGUST 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Could be ticketed for versatile role Johnson could fill a role similar to Roderick Daniels in the Mustangs' 2025 offense, Jacob Richman of Lone Star Live reports.

Impact Johnson joined SMU this offseason as a transfer from Miami, where he only managed six carries for 31 yards and eight catches for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns a season ago as a redshirt freshman. While those aren't eye-popping numbers, Johnson's ability to both nab passes and tote the rock could afford him additional opportunity in SMU's scheme -- Daniels finished with 42 catches for 663 yards and four touchdowns and added 44 carries for 160 yards and a trio of scores as a rusher last season. While it may be unlikely for Johnson to replicate that level of production next season, he could carve out regular playing time.

APRIL 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Chris Johnson Predicts Titans to Make Blockbuster Trade for $125 Million Star Chris Johnson says the Titans could trade for Myles Garrett.

FEBRUARY 8, 2025 • THESTATE.COM

SMU continues Miami transfer pipeline with RB Chris Johnson Jr. The running back has three years of eligibility remaining and was one of the top backs in the Class of 2023.

DECEMBER 21, 2024 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Commits to MSU Johnson has committed to MSU, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports.

Impact The 6-foot, 180-pound tailback will add depth to the backfield for the 2025 season. Johnson didn't get much of a shot in two seasons at Miami, but he'll aim to have a more prominent role at SMU. He will have three years left of college eligibility.

DECEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Leaving Coral Gables Johnson will enter the transfer portal, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports.

Impact Johnson didn't get much of a shot in two seasons at Miami. His true freshman year, he redshirted and ran for 73 yards and a score on 11 carries. In 2024, he took just six handoffs for 31 yards. He'll have three years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.

DECEMBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

CHRIS JOHNSON JR. NEWS

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Kevin Jennings throws 2 TD passes as SMU avenges ACC title game loss to Clemson, 35-24

Chris Johnson scores twice and SMU gets 96-yard pick-6 in 34-10 win over Stanford

No. 17 SMU matches up against Baylor in Week 2