EUGENE, Ore. — Tez Johnson’s journey in Eugene started with Bo Nix.
Johnson followed his brother Nix to Oregon last year after three years at Troy State. The connection between the two players was special, both off the field and on it.
Adopted by the Nix family when he was a teenager, Johnson became one of Nix’s favorite targets, catching a school-record 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Nix, who played for two years with Oregon after transferring from Auburn, threw for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns last season and was a Heisman Trophy finalist before he was drafted by the Denver Broncos.
Johnson remained at No. 3 Oregon, where he’s having another stellar season, this time catching passes from quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Johnson had 10 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown last weekend in a 31-10 victory over Michigan State, his third game this season with 10 catches or more.
“I love Tez, I love who he represents as a person, so I can definitely get behind a guy like that,” Gabriel said. “His playing ability is special and he’s showed that for many years. … I only have good things to say about him. We continue to find ways to create solutions to problems, and he’s a great problem-solver so I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Johnson, who is on pace to surpass his receptions record this season, said the accolades are great but he wants all his fellow receivers to excel.
“We don’t already look at records, we look at wins,” he said. “We want to go 1-0 each week and be the best in the country — no matter what.”
So far this season, Johnson has 43 catches for 395 yards and five TDs. He ranks sixth nationally with 8.6 catches per game. He also had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against Boise State. Overall, he’s returned 11 punts for 134 yards.
“Our offensive staff does an unbelievable job of moving him around, so it’s hard to get a bead on where Tez is going to be on any given play with the movements and motions that we use, and he’s just an elusive player,” coach Dan Lanning said. “He’s hard to cover. He’s got great bursts. He’s very consistent. He’s become a safety net in a lot of ways for our offense and the way he’s able to get open.”
This Saturday, the Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) play No. 2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) at Autzen Stadium. The Buckeyes are coming off a 35-7 victory over Iowa.
The game was always circled on the schedule because it was a test for the Ducks in their first Big Ten season after the demise of the Pac-12. But it has taken on even more importance with both teams ranked in the top three of The AP Top 25.
The Ducks’ offense will be challenged. The Buckeyes are the top-ranked team in the nation for defense, allowing opponents just 202.4 yards a game. They are also atop the FBS in allowing an average of just 6.8 points per game.
Ohio State’s opponents have managed an average of just 129.8 passing yards per game.
The significance was certainly not lost on Johnson, who said it’s all in the preparation.
“Know that we’re going to practice physical every single day knowing that they’ve got some really good players,” he said. “So do we.”
