LJ Johnson Jr.
LJ Johnson Jr.
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. Three head coaches in five seasons, at three different programs. One game to point at: 39 rush yds against San Diego State — Week 4, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Justin Wilcox.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tosh Lupoi
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | California | 33 | 108 | 3.3 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | SMU | 74 | 303 | 4.1 | 5 | -- |
| 2023 | SMU | 109 | 576 | 5.3 | 4 | -- |
| 2022 | Texas A&M | 10 | 39 | 3.9 | 2 | -- |
| 2021 | Texas A&M | 21 | 76 | 3.6 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 247 | 1,102 | 4.5 | 13 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | California | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 0 | -- |
| 2024 | SMU | 11 | 80 | 7.3 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | SMU | 7 | 58 | 8.3 | 0 | -- |
| 2022 | Texas A&M | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2021 | Texas A&M | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 23 | 170 | 7.4 | 0 | -- |
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
California
2026 Depth chart
Returning starter
Running back · California
Returning around him
- 22% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 1 California player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (32 in / 36 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
California · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #36 · 2026 recruiting class #56
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Toa Taua’s 2022 season.
Matches Toa on
Differs from Toa on
Through 4 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Cam Porter’s path through Northwestern.
Matches Cam on
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Kejon Owens's senior season at Florida International (2024).
Matches Kejon on
Player DNA
Players who play like LJ Johnson Jr.
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2021–2025+42%
Up 42% from first season to most-recent.