Texas football adds versatile DB in 4-Star S Jordon Johnson-Rubell

The third commitment of the day and the 11th in total for the 2024 Texas football recruiting class arrived on the afternoon of July 1 with the highly touted four-star IMG Academy safety Jordon Johnson-Rubell. Texas continues to rake in the blue-chip commitments in the 2024 recruiting class, with two coming on the same day to kick off July on a high note.

Johnson-Rubell and the versatile four-star Lucas (TX) Lovejoy wide receiver Parker Livingstone were the two blue-chip recruits to commit to the Longhorns 2024 class on July 1 that had scheduled decision dates. The former of those two Texas commits is also the second blue-chip defensive back to commit to the Longhorns 2024 class, with the other being four-star Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain cornerback Santana Wilson.

And the other blue-chip recruit that committed to the Longhorns on July 1 was the touted four-star Duncanville defensive lineman Alex January.

Texas football adds second blue-chip DB commit in the 2024 class with 4-Star S Jordon Johnson-Rubell pledging on July 1

Texas landed Johnson-Rubell’s commitment over other top schools such as the Michigan Wolverines, TCU Horned Frogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Florida Gators. Johnson-Rubell committed to Texas one week after a successful official visit to Austin from June 23-25.

Playing college football closer to home (Fort Worth, TX) and having strong relationships with Texas coaches, namely Blake Gideon and Terry Joseph, ultimately won this recruitment for the Longhorns. Johnson-Rubell formed a good connection with Gideon early in his recruitment, which played a major role in Texas getting involved with the native out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Johnson-Rubell gives Texas another high-caliber versatile defensive back

We know that head coach Steve Sarkisian, Pete Kwiatkowski, and the Longhorns like to recruit talented defensive back prospects that are versatile enough to play multiple positions in the secondary. Johnson-Rubell is the exact type of defensive back recruit that fills that mold for the Texas secondary.

Johnson-Rubell can play at nickel or safety for the Longhorns, given his upside as a cover DB that can make plays all over the field.

Ranginess and football IQ are off the charts for Johnson-Rubell, who has proven that he can standout defending the run from sideline to sideline while covering a lot of ground in man and zone coverage schemes.

The timing and instincts that Johnson-Rubell possesses defending the run and the pass are what ultimately allow him to close so fast and make plays on the ball or the ball carrier. Johnson-Rubell compliments his timing and instincts with a hard-hitting nature to his game, making him an even more potent playmaker in the secondary.

Johnson-Rubell is sticky in coverage

One-on-one coverage ability is often lacking, or at least not a major strength, for smaller-frame defensive backs/safeties out of high school, such as Johnson-Rubell. Height disadvantages and lack of feel for playing different coverage schemes are often the biggest reasons why smaller safeties/defensive backs struggle with the transition to consistently thriving in one-on-one man coverage at the collegiate level.

That will not be the case for Johnson-Rubell.

The 5-foot-10 and 170-pound Johnson-Rubell is natural in slot, zone, and traditional man coverage schemes when one-on-one with the receiver. Johnson-Rubell doesn’t allow the receiver to get much separation, tightening the window that opposing quarterbacks have to throw into dramatically.

Areas of improvement

Outside of getting bigger, Johnson-Rubell doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game. But two of the areas I would like to see some progression from Johnson-Rubell are contesting space near the line of scrimmage and anticipation covering short and intermediate routes.

Anticipation and awareness around the line of scrimmage are essential to becoming a high-level nickel in the SEC. Johnson-Rubell possesses many of the tools required to be a top-notch nickelback in the Power Five if he can grow within the role of playing at the star position for the Longhorns.

Lastly, there are times when Johnson-Rubell can either over-anticipate routes on the outside from receivers running five or 10 yards in front of the line of scrimmage. If he can be more patient and anticipate the timing of the throw to the outside receivers, Johnson-Rubell would be a more movable nickel in the secondary at the collegiate level.

Fit and projection at Texas

As mentioned in this commitment breakdown multiple times, Johnson-Rubell projects as an impact nickelback for the Longhorns’ secondary. Johnson-Rubell could also be switchable between safety and star at Texas, as he plays most of his defensive snaps at IMG Academy at the safety position.

Depending on how much Johnson-Rubell keeps growing in the next 12-18 months, he could contribute early at Texas. Since Texas has so much secondary depth, Johnson-Rubell will really have to earn his spot on the two-deep in his first two years on campus.

But I would be surprised if Johnson-Rubell isn’t a starter by his third year on campus. His game has rangy and hard-hitting attributes that remind you of a combination of Jahdae Barron and Jalen Catalon.

After landing Livingstone, January, and Johnson-Rubell on the afternoon of July 1, Texas is firmly at double-digits in the 2024 class. According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, the 2024 Texas recruiting class ranks No. 28 in the nation.