LJ Johnson Jr. News, Rumors, Updates - California Golden Bears

Out for regular-season finale Johnson (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against SMU.

Impact Johnson will miss the season finale, meaning this will be his fifth straight absence. Kendrick Raphael has dominated the carries for the Golden Bears, and that should continue to be the case moving forward.

NOVEMBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out vs. Stanford Johnson (undisclosed) isn't available against Stanford on Saturday.

Impact Johnson (undisclosed) hasn't played since Week 8 and will now miss his fourth straight game. Kendrick Raphael has dominated the carries for the Golden Bears.

NOVEMBER 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Johnson (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against Louisville.

Impact Johnson will miss a third consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. Kendrik Raphael continues to thrive in his absence and will continue to man the bulk of the carries with Johnson sidelined.

NOVEMBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Saturday Johnson (undisclosed) is out for Saturday's game against Virginia.

Impact Johnson will be sidelined for a second straight game, meaning Kendrick Raphael should see another hefty workload after finding the endzone three times last week. Johnson will have to wait another week to try and return against Louisville on Nov. 8.

OCTOBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Out Friday Johnson (undisclosed) is out for Friday's game at Virginia Tech.

Impact Johnson will miss his first game of the season as he deals with an undisclosed injury. It's unclear when he suffered the injury or exactly what he is dealing with. He has rushed 34 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns through seven games this season, and with Brandon High (undisclosed) and Jayden Parker (undisclosed) also out, Jamaal Wiley could see his first action of the season.

OCTOBER 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

In competition for backfield role Johnson is competing for carries this fall in California's two-back rotation, Jake Curtis of SI.com reports.

Impact Johnson is joining California with one year of eligibility remaining, and he'll get the chance to make an impact in that year in the team's backfield rotation. The 5-foot-10 running back won't have to beat out both Brandon High and Kendrick Raphael to see major playing time, but he'll have to outshine one to get into the two-back role.

AUGUST 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Flips to California Johnson will flip his transfer portal commitment from Rice to California, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.

Impact Johnson spent the past two seasons at SMU, where he totaled 879 rushing yards and nine scores, while also reeling in 18 catches for 138 yards. He initially elected to spend his final season of eligibility at Rice, but once a bigger program like California came calling, it's not hard to understand why Johnson elected to flip his commitment and continue playing in the ACC in 2025.

MAY 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Joining the Owls Johnson has announced his commitment to Rice University, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Johnson will join the Owls after spending the last two seasons with SMU. The 5-foot-10 redshirt junior, who started his career with Texas A&M, tallied 183 carries for 879 yards and nine touchdowns during his time with the Mustangs, adding on 18 receptions for 138 yards through the air.

APRIL 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Enters transfer portal Johnson has decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact Johnson left SMU recently prior to entering the portal and will now look for a fresh start at a different program. The junior running back totaled 74 carries for 303 yards and five touchdowns across 11 games this season.

APRIL 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

No longer with SMU Head coach Rhett Lashlee indicated Friday that Johnson is no longer with the program, Dean Ralsky of On3.com reports.

Impact Johnson seemed to be in the mix to claim a regular share of the carries in 2025 after handling 74 for 303 and five touchdowns last season, but it appears he's elected to move on from the program, potentially indicating he had fallen behind a bit in the pecking order. With the spring transfer window slated to open next week, Johnson seems likely bound to enter it.

APRIL 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Productive by air and ground Johnson accrued 11 carries for 43 yards and hauled in all four targets for 49 yards during Saturday's 33-7 victory over Virginia.

Impact Johnson neared 100 total all-purpose yards for SMU, serving once again as the backup tailback to Brashard Smith. Although the latter has firm control of the backfield, Johnson has proven he's good for a handful of carries each week as well, and if he can continue to catch passes like he did against Virginia, he could carve out a fantasy role eventually.

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Second fiddle to Smith in win Johnson tallied eight carries for 36 yards during Saturday's 28-27 overtime victory against Duke.

Impact Johnson led SMU's backfield in carries last week, but was significantly out-paced by Brashard Smith against Duke, who logged 26 carries. Johnson should continue to be a factor on the ground for the Mustangs, but Smith may have a tighter grip on the lead tailback role at this point in the season.

OCTOBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Paces backfield in carries Johnson accrued nine rushes for 45 yards and two touchdowns and caught their only target for 14 yards during Saturday's 40-10 win against Stanford.

Impact Johnson's nine rushes were the most of any SMU tailback. Though he was bested in terms of yards by Brashard Smith, it's encouraging to see Johnson lead the way for the Mustangs' backfield. His nine carries were the most he's seen since Week 1. Snaps might not be so evenly distributed in a closer game, but it's clear the SMU coaching staff trusts both Smith and Johnson to handle the backfield duties in Dallas.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared to play Johnson (concussion) is cleared to play in Saturday's game against Louisville, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Johnson was held out last week but will be able to return after just a one-week absence. He's off to a promising start with 22 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown through three games. Expect him to be reinserted behind Brashard Smith in Saturday's action.

OCTOBER 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to be available Saturday Johnson (concussion) is expected to be available during SMU's game Saturday at Louisville, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Unlike before SMU's previous game, Johnson's status is much more promising this time around. Unless the running back suffers a setback between now and Saturday, he is expected to log his first carries since Week 4.

OCTOBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Saturday Johnson (concussion) is out for Saturday's game against Florida State, Jacob Richman of TheLoneStarLive.com reports.

Impact The absence of Johnson is a huge blow for SMU's backfield. Expect more looks for Roderick Daniels, who primarily operates as a receiver, and Derrick McFall, with Brashard Smith being the top option in the rushing attack. Johnson's next chance to play will come against Florida State on Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Status day-to-day Johnson is day-to-day due to a concussion, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact According to an earlier announcement from Assimakopoulos, Johnson suffered his concussion during the Mustangs' game Saturday against TCU. Once again and unsurprisingly, they will monitor him daily before their next matchup. Currently, it is scheduled for Sept. 28 against Florida State.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Available to play Johnson (undisclosed) is available to play against BYU Friday, Jacob Richman reports.

Impact It remains to be seen what Johnson's role in the offense will look like. He's likely going to serve as the immediate backup but may be limited given that he was dealing with an injury leading up to the game.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Status uncertain Johnson Jr. is day-to-day as he deals with an injury, Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Johnson Jr. is coming off a good performance in a blowout against Houston Christian in which he recorded eight carries for 50 yards. Now, the halfback has been deemed day-to-day with an injury and is therefore questionable against BYU on Friday.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Solid day in blowout Johnson Jr. recorded eight rushes for 50 yards and hauled in their only target for six yards during Saturday's 59-7 victory versus Houston Christian.

Impact Johnson ran the ball just eight times, as SMU had no issue handling Houston Christian in a big-time blowout. Johnson and Brashard Smith are still the top dogs in this backfield, with Smith holding the slight edge currently.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Solid day in blowout Johnson Jr. recorded eight rushes for 50 yards and hauled in their only target for six yards during Saturday's 59-7 victory versus Houston Christian.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Bottled up Saturday Johnson Jr. totaled nine rushes for 19 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 29-24 win over Nevada.

Impact Johnson couldn't get much of anything going on the ground, and his touchdown run was a one-yard scamper coming on the heels of an extremely demoralizing penalty against Nevada that set up first-and-goal from the one yard-line. Johnson wasn't alone, however, as SMU's running backs struggled to find consistent creases all night in Reno. Johnson finished as the Mustangs' second-leading rusher, and should continue to be part of what was a committee approach moving forward.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Leads backfield in win Johnson notched 21 rushes for 115 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 38-34 win against Memphis.

Impact For the second straight week, Johnson received 20 carries, went for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown. It appears he has taken over the lead in the Mustangs' backfield, as he dominated touches over Camar Wheaton (nine carries for 51 yards) and Jaylan Knighton (two carries for five yards).

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Workhorse in Friday's win Johnson had 20 rushes for 106 yards and one touchdown and caught their only target for 12 yards during Friday's 45-21 victory against North Texas.

Impact Johnson led the team with 20 rushing attempts Saturday and it allowed him to run for over 100 yards and a touchdown for the second time this season. Jaylan Knighton also had a productive day, rushing 17 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. It will be a more difficult matchup for both of them Saturday at Memphis, a team which boasts a much better run defense than the Mean Green.

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leads backfield Saturday Johnson posted 15 carries for 73 yards and hauled in 3 of 4 targets for 26 yards during Saturday's 36-31 victory versus Rice.

Impact Johnson led the team in carries and yards Saturday as he received his most touches of the season. He has quietly received more work over the past few games and appears to have taken over Camar Wheaton (one carry for one yard) as at least the No. 2 in the Mustangs' backfield. This backfield is a difficult one to predict, as it seems any of Johnson, Wheaton and Jaylan Knighton can take over the backfield in any given game.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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