HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we’ll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
No. 4 Jaquan Johnson, S — Miami (FL)
Unbeaten Miami (FL) led Virginia Tech by 11 points, 21-10, in the final seconds of the third quarter last November. The Hokies were driving and faced 4th-and-3 from the Hurricanes’ 34-yard-line. A first down, obviously, would extend the drive and significantly improved Virginia Tech’s chances of cutting it to a one-score game and putting a scare into the playoff-seeking ‘Canes.
Instead, safety Jaquan Johnson intercepted Josh Jackson’s pass and returned it 20 yards to the 44-yard-line, where Malik Rosier began a three-play scoring drive.
Miami 28, Virginia Tech 10. Ballgame.
“I’ve been jumping up and down on this Jaquan Johnson bandwagon for a while now. It’s neat that he made the plays that sort of the untrained eye can see, the obvious spectacular plays,’’ defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said after the game. “Because the plays that he’s been making that have maybe been going unnoticed have been just as important.”
Johnson’s four interceptions tied for the team lead and his 95 tackles led the team. An All-ACC Second-Team selection, he also added three tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder from Miami passed on the 2018 NFL Draft to play one more season. Jaquan Johnson is a potential early-round pick in the 2019 draft, All-America candidate and the best No. 4 in the country.
