Dillon Johnson came to Washington from Mississippi State to be the final piece in the National Championship puzzle.
It paid off – Johnson doubled his career rushing output with 1,195 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023 for the Huskies en route to a berth in the National Championship game. That run included Johnson gutting through a broken bone in his right foot, a sprained left ankle, and ruptured bursa sac in his left knee.
Johnson stepped up when the lights got brightest: all four of his 100 yard rushing games as a Husky came against ranked opponents. His soccer and basketball background have gifted him with quick, attacking footwork that allows him to be patient when waiting for blocks to develop before he bursts through a hole.
Now, he’ll bring those gifts to Nashville, as the Tennessee Titans signed Johnson to an undrafted free agent contract on Saturday following the conclusion of the NFL draft.
Washington RB Dillon Johnson to the #Titans, per source. Highly productive player who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 16 TDs last season. pic.twitter.com/fFmKto0a6G
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 27, 2024
He’ll likely be a complementary back for the Titans, who also have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears in the backfield, if he makes the final roster. But Johnson’s vision and ability to pick through traffic in an RB2 role could prove attractive for a Titans team missing a legitimate option behind those two players.
Johnson is the second Husky to sign as a UDFA, following tight end Jack Westover, who is staying in Seattle to sign with the Seahawks according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.