Snapshot Profile: No. 6 Ja'Varrius Johnson

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Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 6 Ja'Varrius Johnson

JD McCarthy

9-12 minutes

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Going into the 2022 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Bryan Harsin this season.

Today we will be focusing on junior wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson. Johnson, who signed with Auburn in 2019, entered the transfer portal earlier in the offseason but returned to Auburn, and is one of the most experienced players in the room.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Trussville, Alabama

Ht: 5-10

Wt: 160

247Sports Composite Ranking

4-star // No. 15 in Alabama // No. 43 Wide Receiver

Class in 2021: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year	G	Rec	Yards	YPR	Total TDs
2021	12	19	274	14.4	2

PFF Rankings (Team Rankings)

Year	Offense	Receiving	Blocking	Yards After Catch
2021	67.0 (11)	66.8 (5)	50.9 (29)	70 (7)

Depth Chart Overview

Johnson returning to the team was a major win for the offense as the Tigers would have had to replace three of their top four receivers from last season.

Johnson’s 14.4 yards per reception led all receivers with more than one catch and looks like a solid starter receiver for Auburn. He and Shedrick Jackson are Auburn’s two most experienced receivers by far, no one else on the roster caught more than six passes a season ago.

If Johnson can stay healthy then he should be in store for a much more productive season as he is clearly the Tiger’s second-best returning receiver.

The two will undoubtedly be tasked with helping bring along the less experienced members of the room.  With just Johnson and Shedrick Auburn will likely be counting on some inexperienced players to have significant roles in the offense and will need the veterans to provide leadership.

In addition to starting at receiver, Johnson could be the primary punt returner. He took over for Demetris Robertson and averaged 11.4 yards per return, a step up from what Robertson was providing.

Ja’Varrius Johnson’s Photo Gallery

NCAA Football: Auburn at Arkansas

Oct 16, 2021; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) catches a pass…

Oct 16, 2021; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) catches a pass for touchdown in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

APTOPIX Auburn Arkansas Football

Auburn receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) scores a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an…

Auburn receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) scores a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Auburn Texas A M Football

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) tries to avoid a tackle during a punt return against…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) tries to avoid a tackle during a punt return against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Ja'Varrius Johnson

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game,…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Akron Auburn Football

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) is shoved out of bounds by Akron cornerback A.J. Watts…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) is shoved out of bounds by Akron cornerback A.J. Watts (18) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NCAA Football: Alabama at Auburn

Nov 30, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) runs the ball…

Nov 30, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 27: Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers fails to pull in…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 27: Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers fails to pull in this reception against DeMarcco Hellams #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Mississippi State v Auburn

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers looks to…

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 28: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers looks to run the ball by safety Landon Guidry #35 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Auburn, AL. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) breaks free for a touchdown against Mississippi State at…

Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) breaks free for a touchdown against Mississippi State at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mississippi State v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 13: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers runs the…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 13: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball in front of safety Collin Duncan #19 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first quarter of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

NCAA Football: Birmingham Bowl-Houston at Auburn

Dec 28, 2021; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) catches a pass…

Dec 28, 2021; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) catches a pass against the Houston Cougars during the second half of the 2021 Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

NCAA Football: Georgia St. at Auburn

Sep 25, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) carries as Georgia State…

Sep 25, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) carries as Georgia State Panthers safety Antavious Lane (34) closes in during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon v Auburn

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball against…

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball against Haki Woods Jr. #14 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the Advocare Classic at AT&T Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Syndication: Montgomery

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) returns the ball during the first quarter. © Jake Crandall…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) returns the ball during the first quarter. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky Auburn Football

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) carries the ball against Kentucky during the first quarter of…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) carries the ball against Kentucky during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Georgia State v Auburn

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 25: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers dives for…

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 25: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson #6 of the Auburn Tigers dives for a pass in front of linebacker Jacorey Crawford #10 of the Georgia State Panthers during the forth quarter of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) attempts a cut during Auburn football A-Day spring game at…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) attempts a cut during Auburn football A-Day spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. © Jake Crandall via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin helps Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) with his face mask…

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin helps Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) with his face mask during Auburn football A-Day spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

AU FB Practice

Ja'Varrius Johnson (6)

Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) Auburn football practice on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021 in Hoover, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) runs the the field during an open football practice at…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) runs the the field during an open football practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, March 20, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) fails to pull in a pass during an open football…

Auburn wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (6) fails to pull in a pass during an open football practice at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, March 20, 2021. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK