Why Tulane transfer Jeffery Johnson is happy to be on OU football fans' good side
NORMAN — When Jeffery Johnson steps onto Owen Field for OU's season opener, it'll be an entirely different experience compared to last season.
Johnson was a defensive tackle for Tulane at the time. The Green Wave was originally scheduled to host its season opener against OU on Sept. 4, 2021, but the game got relocated to Norman due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.
The late change left OU with a shortage of service providers and resulted in a limited seating capacity. Still, the official attendance of 42,206 spectators was enough to grab Johnson's attention.
"It was a great experience getting to play there, even if I was on the opposite side," Johnson said. "It was crazy."
OU earned a 40-35 win over Tulane despite a strong showing from Johnson. The then-senior defensive lineman recorded six tackles including one tackle for loss.
Johnson ultimately transferred to OU this past offseason. He'll now be on the good side of the crowd when the Sooners kick off their season with a home game against UTEP on Sept. 3.
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"It's going to be better than coming out on the other side of the crowd and getting booed in front of (over 42,000) people," Johnson said.
Aside from OU's passionate fan base, Johnson was drawn to head coach Brent Venables when he entered the transfer portal on Jan. 7.
Johnson received interest from other premier programs such as Michigan, LSU and USC. But any desire to visit those universities quickly diminished once he traveled to Norman.
"What really drew me here was Coach (Venables) and the coaches," Johnson said. "I was just developing a relationship with them during those days I was in the transfer portal. Just coming up here and visiting, the impact it had on me was outstanding.
"It made me want to stay. I didn't really want to take any other visits."
Johnson committed to OU just seven days after entering the transfer portal.
The fifth-year defensive tackle brings a wealth of experience to the Sooners' defensive line. He's a 6-2, 313-pound machine who recorded 135 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks throughout his four seasons at Tulane.
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Johnson proved his worth with the Green Wave, but that hasn't stopped him from soaking in everything he can with the Sooners.
"(Johnson) has got a great attitude," Venables said. "He's humble. He's a great worker. He's a great teammate... He brought all of this experience, so he could've come in here with an attitude where he doesn't feel like he has to learn. That couldn't be further from the truth. He has been incredible."
The addition of Johnson is a timely one.
OU lost its top three defensive linemen from last season to the NFL. Isaiah Thomas (Cleveland Browns), Perrion Winfrey (Browns) and Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos) combined for 20.5 of the Sooners' 33 sacks in 2021.
Replacing that level of production is a tall order, but seeing the trio of former Sooners reach the NFL is extra motivation for Johnson to follow in their footsteps.
"That brings another level of high expectations," Johnson said. "I have dreams. I have visions. I'm doing things in the moment to work toward that dream, so I try to take it day by day."
Chasing a cheetah
Venables is still on the hunt for his cheetah.
The former Clemson defensive coordinator is expected to implement his own brand of football at OU this season, and one example is the addition of the "cheetah" position.
A combination of linebacker and safety, the cheetah is a role reserved for a fast defender. He must be able to play man-to-man, blitz and cover ground quickly in the open field.
"(The cheetah) can do a variety of things," Venables said. "It’s one of the easier positions to learn, but it’s hard to play because of the skill set required."
Redshirt fifth-year defensive back Justin Broiles and freshman linebacker Jaren Kanak spent time at the hybrid position during the spring, but other players have emerged as candidates this summer.
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A new contender is redshirt senior defensive back Justin Harrington, who has been trying to translate his elite athleticism to the field since arriving at OU in 2020.
Harrington is working his way back into the picture after briefly entering the transfer portal this past offseason and returning as a walk-on, but he could find his niche as OU's primary cheetah.
"Justin has had a really good camp," Venables said. "We’re looking at him both our cheetah position and then at free safety... He is competing to be a starter... Justin’s a guy that has a lot of position flexibility and can do a lot of things for us. So, I'm excited about him."
Another contender for the elusive cheetah role is DaShaun White.
The fifth-year linebacker is one of the most experienced players on OU's roster, and he prides himself in being able to play multiple positions.
"It's been cool," White said of his time at cheetah. "It suits me... I've always felt like I can do a lot of things. I think that playing under Venables and playing under this defensive scheme has really allowed me to show a lot of the things I can do."
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OU depth chart release date
Venables said Thursday that the team will release its Week 1 depth chart on Monday.
Until then, the competition for roles continues.
One spot that remains up for grabs is backup quarterback, where a trio there is a trio of candidates. Redshirt junior Davis Beville, sophomore General Booty and freshman Nick Evers are all competing to be the primary backup for redshirt junior Dillon Gabriel.
"Davis, Booty and Evers are all doing a great job of battling it out," Venables said. "They’ve had some great moments in camp and some not-so-great moments. We’re definitely in a better position now than when we finished spring ball."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Tulane transfer Jeffery Johnson brings new perspective
