Film Study: What does UNLV transfer Ricky Johnson bring to Michigan?

Could Johnson have an impact in Ann Arbor this season?

Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR transfers have been added to the secondary of the Michigan Wolverines . Two we have already explored in detail — one more is coming next week —but today we are covering UNLV transfer Ricky Johnson.

Background

Ricky Johnson comes to Michigan by way of UNLV, but prior to that, the Houston native was a two-sport standout in both football and track and field. Similar to most FBS defensive backs, Johnson played both wide receiver and safety in high school and has the ball skills to prove it.

During his four years at UNLV, Johnson racked up 78 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, four interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. Keep in mind that his numbers seem low because they are; in 2020, Johnson only played in four of six games in the COVID-19-impacted season, and in 2022, Johnson only appeared in three games due to an injury.

However, with 30 career games under his belt, Johnson comes to Michigan with two more years of eligibility and the opportunity to correct his stunted growth and expedite his development.

Measurables

Thin. Listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, I audibly muttered, “Ain’t no way,” when I began watching his tape. Although Johnson has added to his frame over the years — Johnson was south of 170 pounds when he arrived in Las Vegas — he appears to be closer to 5-foot-11, 175 pounds compared to the dating app boosted numbers on paper. Immediately, Johnson needs to work on adding 10 real pounds to his frame and bolster his overall strength and explosion. Of the four defensive back recruits, Johnson is the biggest question mark in terms of being frame-ready for the Big Ten.

UNLV Scouting

Best film: Vanderbilt

Worst film: Kansas

Highlight tape can be exceedingly misleading. For instance, a five-minute montage could lead some to believe that Cade McNamara was the best quarterback in Michigan history. However, a deeper dive would reveal a mediocre signal-caller better suited for Iowa.

Johnson has outstanding highlight tape. He shows instincts and play-making that rival most corners in the country. Further examination, thought, shows an inconsistent corner who is still very green in his development is revealed. To his credit, Johnson recognizes these inconsistencies and alluded to them in an interview with Sam Webb .

“There were a lot of ups and downs (at UNLV),” Johnson said. “2021 was my best year here when I was getting all the interceptions and stuff. Coming out the next year, it was supposed to be my year, then the first play of fall camp I went down with a broken arm. It was rough. But I was able to come back later that year, and the first game back I caught an interception. That got my confidence right back up. But sadly, after that season we had a new coaching staff. It was a new learning curve with a new staff coming in. So, my career at UNLV I would say it was good, but a lot of ups and downs.”

Let’s start with the negatives.

Simply put, Johnson thinks too much. Perhaps that had to do with changing schemes last year, but Johnson’s processing speed is stuck in first gear. The slow mental processing causes him to struggle against quick-developing concepts and be more susceptible to double moves.

Furthermore, Johnson does not have the strength to hold against average-body receivers, let alone bigger players and tight ends. At the point of contact, Johnson is consistently moved off his spot allowing players to create separation without much difficulty.

All of this combined leads to Johnson being wildly inconsistent from snap to snap. So why would Michigan be interested in a player with this many deficiencies?

For all of his shortcomings, Johnson possesses a few rare traits. Physically, he has the speed (probably sub-4.5) for the Big Ten and ball skills that seem effortless. His great hands allow him to overcome poor positioning and finish plays with aplomb.

Competitively, Johnson is fiery, confident, and wants to win every rep. Sometimes this eagerness gets the best of him, but it is easier to calibrate an over-competitive spirit than to create one. Moreover, there is a palpable maturity to Johnson that exudes humility. A player who recognizes his weaknesses can more easily overcome them. In the same interview with Webb, Johnson spoke about coming to Michigan in search of development.

“Just the opportunity to go get further developed by NFL coaches to get ready for the NFL. Especially Coach Martindale, the guys that he’s coached, produced, and developed, I want to be a part of that. I want to get ready, and I also want to showcase my abilities on a bigger stage. Just be able to get around coaches from the NFL and get ready to go to the NFL. And I feel like this is the best opportunity for me to do that.”

Expectations at Michigan

Ricky Johnson is not playing in the secondary this fall. Actually, let me rephrase: if Ricky Johnson is playing this fall he has either rocketed through his development like he just consumed a super mushroom in Mario Kart, or the Wolverines were bitten by the injury bug. However, from the film, Johnson is not ready, and credit to him for understanding this.

Johnson is a project player in terms of physical frame and skill level. It will take time for him to develop, but this isn’t like an 18-year-old arriving on campus; Johnson has played a lot of football. However, while experience will be his greatest advantage, he will also have to learn how to break a handful of bad habits.

For now, Johnson is an experienced depth piece; a “break-in-case-of-emergency-player” who can potentially play boundary and slot and helps deepen the talent pool on the backend. Could he become a starter in the next two years? Absolutely, but he has a long road of development ahead of him.