Now that the 2022 college football season is over, it’s time to start taking a closer look at some of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class.
Next up, we have TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
- Big board rank: 8
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 215 pounds
Stat to know: 18 forced missed tackles this season ranked eighth among Power Five receivers.
NFL role: Quentin Johnston is one of the freakiest college athletes at wide receiver in recent memory. There’s not much he can’t do on the football field. He’s a true No. 1 option who can successfully run any route in the book. He also breaks tackles like it's nobody’s business. If you get the ball in Johnston’s hands, look out because he’s an absolute menace in the open field.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Johnston has the perfect build for an NFL receiver. He will probably get even better at the next level, as his college usage was not quite what it should be for college. He dealt with a few minor injuries that kept him sidelined on occasion this past season, so his numbers aren’t as good as they could be. But 1,069 yards and six touchdowns is still solid, showing how effective he truly is when out on the field.
There’s no doubt Johnston's game will translate well to the NFL, as the deep ball is becoming more and more of a common threat. There are plenty of teams who could use a true No. 1 wide receiver like Johnston. We’ll see which team swings the bat on him, as they’ll immediately be upgrading their receiving corps.
https://twitter.com/JaredNFLDraft/status/1594038732621238272?s=20&t=G20jnqNuobWldXre1KgAhA
Highest-graded game: Week 6 vs. Kansas (90.9)
You won’t find many performances from a wide receiver that are more impressive than this effort from Johnston. He completely took over this game for TCU despite a rather slow start to the season prior to this breakout. Johnston finished the outing with 14 catches for 206 yards and a game-winning touchdown. That’s right, a whopping 206 yards. Kansas had no answer for him. Johnston also recorded a season-high five forced missed tackles. Go watch his highlights from this one — it features some explosive plays you’ll want to see.
TCU WR Quentin Johnston had a dominating performance today vs Kansas with a 14/206/1 stat line. On display was his athleticism, length and YAC ability.
In case you missed the game here are all of his receptions. Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/v1T4Q0ikOH
— Brandon Lejeune (@DevyDeepDive) October 8, 2022
Lowest-graded game: National championship vs. Georgia (53.5)
This was not ideal timing for Johnston to have his worst game of the season. It came on a night when absolutely nothing went right for the Horned Frogs. TCU tried to get Johnston involved very early in the game, tossing him one screen pass for three yards. That ended up being his only catch of the night against a Georgia defense full of NFL talent. The Bulldogs did their best to double-team Johnston all night and shut him down. There was one route where Johnston was wide open across the middle of the field, but quarterback Max Duggan air-mailed him for an interception. It was a rough showing not only for Johnston but for the entire TCU roster.
What he does well: Johnston forced 45 missed tackles across three seasons at TCU. He is so tough to bring down in the open field and even flashes an ability to drag defenders along. If you can get the ball to Johnston in open space, then watch out. This guy has “big play” written all over him.
Johnston is at his best on the deep ball route, sporting an otherworldly 97.1 receiving grade when targeted on post routes. He’s also not too shabby when running a slant or a hitch, grading above 80.0 in both of those categories, as well. There is not a single route Johnston can’t run successfully, which will fare well for him at the next level. Speaking of running, Johnston also posted a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, which is outstanding for a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder. He looks like a gazelle out there.
It’s amazing how good Johnston's body control is for a guy of his size. He utilizes a beautiful spin move after the catch that seemingly always makes defenders miss.
Quentin Johnston is very much intriguing me as a prospect pic.twitter.com/R6LxvSePAa
— Nico (@elitetakes_) October 16, 2022
What he needs to improve: Johnston occasionally struggled with drops in college. He dropped eight passes in the 2022-23 season, which was the 14th most in college football. We’ll want to see him clean that up at the pro level. Johnston can also improve on his blocking, although that can be said about most college wide receivers He finished the year with a less-than-stellar 60.5 run-blocking grade. That ranks in the bottom third among qualifying receivers.
Best NFL traits: Height, elusiveness, deep-ball threat, acceleration, body control
Best NFL fits: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts
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