Texas football: Colin Johnson taking on mentor role

Johnson's legacy at Texas goes beyond on-field accomplishments

NFL scouts have been salivating over Texas wide receiver Colin Johnson  because of his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame, smooth route running and downfield speed, but last January he told all of them they would have to wait another year. 

Johnson passed on what seemed to be a first-round draft possibly to return to Texas and help lead the Longhorns to the next level as a program and that goes beyond just contirbuting on the field. 

The Texas wide receiver has been working closely with a talented freshman class to help get them ready to contribute alongside him and continue to do so long after he has left the 40 Acres for the NFL. 

With freshman wide receivers Malcolm Epps (6-foot-7) and Brennan Eagles (6-foot-3) the Longhorns have a chance tow wear opponents out with a constant rotation of size and speed in 2019. 

"I always try to tell those big guys Brennan (Eagles), Malcolm (Epps), 'ya'll can be better than me man," Johnson said on Tuesday. "I always try to equip them with the tools to be great. They are all freaks of nature."

"He's the most unselfish player I've ever been around," freshman wide receiver Malcolm Epps said of Johnson. "He wants us to be better than him so we can go higher than whatever round he goes in the draft."

It's certainly an advantage having what amounts to another coach on the field in the receivers room in Johnson, who is much more interested in team goals than individual glory.