Among the UB football team’s 107 players, one player stands out.
Senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson was named to the program’s first preseason Associated Press All-American last Tuesday.
Wearing number 83, the 6-foot-2-inch receiver commands attention from the whole defense, but Johnson was still able to catch touchdown after touchdown as the first team offense and defense worked on goal-line situations.
Johnson’s collegiate career started at two community colleges before transferring to Buffalo where he sat as a redshirt for his first year. In his first season in blue and white, Johnson lit up the college football world for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns as a redshirt junior. Now in his final semester, eyes from NFL scouts across the country are on him to see how he performs.
“It's a good feeling, but at the end of the day, I really haven't been paying attention to all that stuff,” Johnson said. “I just come out here and work on what I need to do and helping my teammates get better. If I can better myself and better them then we can have a good offense and a good defense.”
Johnson comes from a family of NFL talent with three cousins currently in the league, one of whom is Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney was the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Johnson has already been named to both the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Award watch lists for the best player in college football and the best wide receiver.
“Having the family background that he does makes him driven,” said wide receiver’s coach Rob Ianello. “Since he has grown up around that he’s achieved a high level in athletics. He's appreciative of his opportunities.”
When Johnson heads home to South Carolina in the offseason, he works with former first round pick wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson, also a South Carolina native, works with him on aspects such as route running and getting in and out of his breaks.
Both coaches and Johnson know he still has to prove himself and possibly be better this season, even with the preseason hype and attention.
“It's been an exciting summer for Anthony and I think it's the amount of work and the production from last season,” said head coach Lance Leipold. “That's exciting for him that he's put himself on more of a national radar and what it may hold for his future. He knows as well as our team, but it's really what's going to be happening from Saturday to here on out.”
The coaching staff is expecting opponents to double team and press Johnson at the line of scrimmage. The receiver had over 500 yards on plays that went for 20 yards or more in 2017.
“I like moving around a lot,” Johnson said. “Sometimes when guys press me I kind of take that as disrespect as man-to-man. So, I want to show them that I have speed and can run past you.”
Johnson is not the only member of the Bulls to get preseason recognition. Senior linebacker Khalil Hodge and junior quarterback Tyree Jackson are both getting serious looks from NFL scouts. The team as a whole set a record this offseason, with six different players being named to 10 watch-lists.
After putting up NCAA leading numbers, Johnson and the rest of the Bulls have a lot to prove when they kick off for the first time this season against Delaware State this Saturday.
“I'm just going to play my game and hopefully other teams will realize we have other weapons on this team,” Johnson said.
Nathaniel Mendelson is the sports editor and can be reached at nathaniel.mendelson@ubspectrum.com
