Cal lands running back transfer LJ Johnson via SMU
The California Golden Bears will have a decidedly different running back room this fall.
Cal has added former SMU running back LJ Johnson Jr. as the latest piece in its rapid rebuild of the running back room.
The running back corps was decimated when five players—including stars Jaydn Ott and Jaivian Thomas—entered the transfer portal post-spring. Johnson, a former Rivals100 recruit and Texas A&M signee, originally committed to Rice before flipping to Cal. He becomes the third back added this offseason, joining UTSA’s Brandon High Jr. and NC State’s Kendrick Raphael.
Johnson rushed for 879 yards and 9 touchdowns over two seasons at SMU, averaging 4.8 yards per carry across 24 games with seven starts. Last season, the 5-foot-10, 219-pound back tallied 303 yards and 5 touchdowns on 74 carries (third on the Mustangs in rushing), adding 80 receiving yards. One of his standout games came in a win over Stanford, where he posted 45 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 9 carries.
With Johnson’s arrival, Cal continues to rebuild a functional, committee-style running back group that now includes returning backs Jamaal Wiley, incoming freshman Anthony League, along with High and Raphael. It’ll be a whole different look in the backfield next season.
Welcome to Cal LJ! Go Bears!
I will miss the Jet, dammit !
One of the best prospects out of HS in '21 with aTm. That's dimmed somewhat (we flipped him from Rice) but, if our OL is indeed better, he can get downhill and move the chains. Look at us, stealing from our #2 conference rival!
Who will be RB1 and 2? No idea. Gotta wait for fall camp, but I think he may be a (ahem) front-runner for a spot.