Former SMU running back Chris Johnson Jr. is generating major Clemson hype after bringing elite speed and big-play production from Dallas.
SMU football fans already knew what Clemson is just now getting excited about: Chris Johnson Jr. can flip a game in one touch.
The former Mustangs running back has become one of the buzziest additions to Clemson’s 2026 offense, and the reason isn’t complicated.
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Johnson brings rare speed, real production and the kind of open-field violence that makes defensive coordinators nervous before the ball is even snapped.
Before landing at Clemson, Johnson gave SMU a dangerous home-run threat out of the backfield, in the passing game and on special teams.
During his time with the Mustangs, he showed exactly why his name keeps popping up in national offseason conversations.
In 2025, Johnson rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns on just 67 carries, averaging a ridiculous 7.1 yards per attempt.
That’s not volume padding. That’s efficiency with a warning label.
He also caught 17 passes for 180 yards and another score, giving SMU a versatile weapon who didn’t need many touches to wreck a defensive game plan.
Clemson saw it up close, too.
When SMU visited Death Valley last season, Johnson produced 59 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries while adding four receptions for 40 yards.
That’s 99 total yards on 10 touches against the program he now joins.
Brutal irony for SMU. Perfect scouting report for Clemson.
Johnson’s résumé also includes 583 career rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 26 catches for 254 yards and three receiving scores, plus 522 yards on 22 kickoff returns.
At 6-0, 185 pounds, he isn’t just fast; he’s usable speed in pads.
And the track background is real. At Dillard High in Fort Lauderdale, Johnson won Florida 3A state titles in the 100 meters at 10.45 and the 200 meters at 20.78.
SMU lost a burner. Clemson gained a problem.
But Johnson’s rise also says something about the Mustangs: Dallas has become a place where explosive Power 4 talent can be built, showcased and noticed nationally.
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