Cal Defensive Lineman Jericho Johnson Brought Everything He Learned at Oregon With Him

The defensive lineman traded Eugene for the Bay Area and found the best of both worlds.

Jericho Johnson didn’t need much convincing when Tosh Lupoi called. Their relationship goes back to high school, and when Lupoi landed at Cal, Johnson saw an opening he couldn’t pass up.

“Tosh played a big role in my recruitment when I was in high school, so that relationship we had kind of never left. Just knowing he was going to come to Cal and knowing I could also be home, it did play a factor. But also just looking for a chance where I can be able to display all my talent and show everybody what I can do.”

Defensive line coach Darrion Daniels was equally important in getting him here.

“Coming here with Tosh and also with D2, I have a great relationship with D2. He also played a big part in trying to get me here when I hit the portal. My relationship with them is really what got me here.”

Having played for Lupoi at Oregon, Johnson already knows what the program is built on.

“I love playing for Tosh. He’s always attacking everything with relentless effort. I love the culture he’s trying to instill here. A lot of what we did at Oregon, I can see he’s trying to bring here. So it works.”

He has a precise idea of what makes a dominant defensive lineman, and no hesitation about whether he fits the description.

“Somebody that’s going to dominate the line of scrimmage, require four hands, be able to anchor on double teams, separate off blocks, violently shed and create knockback and play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”

When asked if that’s him, he didn’t blink.

“Yeah, definitely. I’m able to do it all. Anchor, double team, whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it.”

He sees his role in the room as more than just playing his position. The experience he brought from Oregon is something he’s actively passing on.

“I’m able to take what I learned at Oregon from the top guys and translate it and help guys like Tyson [Ruffins] or [Sioape Vatikani] get better. We got guys that are coming up and we’re just sharpening each other, making each other better.”

Coming home has added something beyond football.

“Being able to be away, from being at Oregon and having my time away from home, it was definitely good. But I think it was just God bringing me back, and now I’m able to have fun being at home and also have fun playing football. I get the best of both worlds. My church family, everybody’s going to be able to make it up to the games.”