Roschon Johnson Revealed Who He Models His Game After

Under normal circumstances, most draft experts agree that Roschon Johnson should’ve been a Day 2 pick in the 2023 draft. His athletic talent and game tape showed this. However, he had the misfortune of playing behind a star in Bijan Robinson at Texas. However, that didn’t deter him. Johnson easily could’ve chosen to transfer to a different school, seeking a starting job. Yet, in a testament to his character, he decided to stick it out and became a vital component of the team both on offense and special teams. His versatility became his calling card, and is why the Bears snagged him in the 4th round.

There is no denying Johnson is more than backup. He can be a starter in the NFL. Part of this comes from his relentless work ethic. One way he went about evolving his game was by studying successful pro running backs, both past and present. He was asked on ESPN 1000 which names stood out to him the most. Johnson stated it was a little bit of everybody when he first got to college. Over the following couple of years, one name emerged from the rest of the pack. Bears fans are probably familiar with him.

Roschon Johnson liking Matt Forte isn’t a surprise.

The two share a lot in common. Both are bigger than average for running backs and have a unique versatility as both a runner and pass-catcher. Of his 5,250 yards from scrimmage in college, 17.82% of it came through the air for Forte. As for Johnson, his was around 16.09%. Unmistakeable similarity. Now Forte was a better athlete. He had more speed than Johnson. On the other hand, the Bears rookie may have the edge from a power standpoint. He can run through tacklers better.

Expecting Roschon Johnson to be the next Forte is unfair. That said, if he becomes even 70-80% of what the former Bears star was in his era, the organization will have gotten one of the biggest steals in recent memory. Some believe the rookie could end up stealing the starting job at some point before the end of this year. History says it isn’t wise to bet against him. He stood out despite sharing a backfield with one of the most talented backs of this generation. Now there is no such obstacle in his path.