The college football season in Texas starts a week earlier than normal with a Week 0 matchup between North Texas and UTEP. To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas every day until Aug. 27. The list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best, though talent plays a major factor in most important.

No. 6: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M junior defensive back 

The History

Johnson was a four-star defensive back recruit out of East St. Louis High School who chose the Aggies over dozens of national offers. He totaled 98 tackles and two interceptions on defense in his prep career. He also played receiver and caught 39 passes for 830 yards and seven scores during his time in high school. Johnson enrolled at Texas A&M prior to the 2020 season and immediately worked his way into the rotation. He played in seven games and made one start, which was at nickel in the Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina.

Johnson became a household name in the 2021 season after a second-team All-SEC performance as a sophomore. He was second on the team with 79 tackles, third with five breakups, and fourth among Aggies with 8.5 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus named him a first-team All-American due to his dominate play in coverage and run support from his nickel back position. 

The Skillset

The 6-3, 195-pound Johnson can do it all, and that’s why he’s the best defensive back in the state of Texas. He is long enough to cover tight ends and big wide receivers. He’s quick enough to play against the slot. And he’s savvy enough in zone coverage to always be in the right spot. Oh, and Johnson is a force in run support. He can translate into the NFL game as a safety or nickel. He could probably even play cornerback in a cover-two system. Johnson is ultra-talented, and his versatility allows the Texas A&M defense to take chances in the front seven and on the back end. He’s a potential Thorpe Award winner who is probably in his last season in College Station because his frame and skillset translate well to the professional level. 

The Impact  

The modern game requires a hybrid safety/linebacker/cornerback who can play at nickel. Johnson is the prototype. He can be the force player on the outside of Texas A&M’s run defense, illustrated by the number of tackles for loss he’s garnered in his short stint as an Aggie. He’s also tremendous in coverage. There aren’t many defenders in the country who make more of an impact than Johnson. He’s a Swiss-Army knife that can’t be replaced. The Aggies’ secondary is one of the best in the nation and Johnson is the lynchpin.  

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