#1

Telly Johnson Jr.

RB · Northern Illinois · So. · #1

Returning to Northern Illinois for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Telly Johnson Jr.

RB · Northern Illinois · So · #1

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#2347 national
CFB
College
Northern Illinois
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Northern Illinois8-5HC: Thomas Hammock · Run-leaning, fast tempo
2025Northern Illinois3-9HC: Thomas Hammock · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Northern Illinois1246905.64--
2024Northern Illinois1034804.74--
Career2271,1705.28--
SeasonTeam
2025Northern Illinois16976.10--
2024Northern Illinois231.50--
Career181005.60--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025

W 19–17

vs Holy Cross

67 rush yds (21 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 2 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Does a little of everything without one standout trait.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Northern Illinois

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Running back · Northern Illinois

Returning around him

  • 53% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -16 net (6 in / 22 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Northern Illinois · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #81

DNA match

Player DNA

Balanced Back

Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.

RB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Camryn Edwards’s 2023 season.

UConn · 2023

#2

Joe Jackson

Kansas State · 2025

All-Big 12NFL Rd 5
77%
#3

Avery Morrow

Colorado State · 2022

75%
#4

Parker Jenkins

Houston · 2023

75%
#5

Anderson Castle

App State · 2023

73%

Matches Camryn on

EPA / carry (adj)
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Yards / carry

Differs from Camryn on

Yards / reception (lower)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Tyler Purdy’s path through James Madison.

Tyler Purdy

98%match

James Madison · 2024

#2

CJ Marable

Coastal Carolina · 2020

95%
#3

Maurice Burkley

Louisville · 2021

92%
#4

Caleb Huntley

Ball State · 2020

All-MAC
92%
#5

Corey Taylor II

Tulsa · 2020

92%

Matches Tyler on

Height
Yards per carry
Weight
20242025

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Leo Pulalasi's sophomore season at Washington State (2024).

Leo Pulalasi

80%match

Washington State · 2024

#2

Kirby Vorhees

Washington State · 2025

79%
#3

Rickey Hunt

Ohio · 2024

77%
#4

Nolan Ray

Maryland · 2024

77%
#5

Omiri Wiggins

Louisiana Tech · 2025

76%

Matches Leo on

Total rush EPA (college ability)
Yards / carry
Weight

Differs from Leo on

Height (lower)
Recruiting rating (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #987

Final rank
#1650
Avg #1342.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #987 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · rushing yards

2024–2025
4802024
6902025

+44%

Up 44% from first season to most-recent.