2023 NFL Draft: TCU Star Quentin Johnston Needs The College Football Playoffs… Here’s Why
By Evan Bruner
The TCU Horned Frogs, and their star wide receiver Quentin Johnston, have certainly turned heads in 2022. As a result, TCU finds itself ranked No. 3 overall in the latest CFP rankings and on the cusp of its first-ever playoff appearance. But for as much as TCU has proven through its unbeaten regular season, there are still plenty of skeptics on the NFL Draft scene.
Due to the Big 12 being viewed as a weaker conference this year, many have attributed TCU’s emergence to circumstance. This logic doesn’t stop at the team level either, as many upperclassmen have received mixed reviews from NFL Draft analysts.
2023 NFL Draft: TCU Star Quentin Johnston Needs The College Football Playoffs… Here’s Why
Most notably, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Johnston has drawn plenty of attention from fans for his blend of size and athletic ability. However, his current standing in this spring’s NFL Draft seems to still be up in the air. Despite his elite athletic profile, Johnston is currently viewed as more of an unknown by analysts.
Johnston’s limited route tree, mixed with subpar competition, has led to the boom-or-bust label being thrown around when discussing him. In addition, TCU’s recent history with highly-touted receivers producing at the next level — such as Josh Doctson and Jalen Reagor — does little to dispel these worries. The good thing for Johnston is that he could have as many as three games remaining in his career, all of which will come against high-level competition.
TCU took care of conference-rival Iowa State this past weekend, and a win against Kansas State this Saturday would lock them into the College Football Playoffs. Barring any major shake-ups from championship weekend, they will likely earn the third or fourth seed in the playoff, which would match them up with fellow unbeatens Georgia and Michigan.
Regardless, this will give Quentin Johnston a much-needed test against a defense loaded with NFL talent. Johnston’s performance on the big stage has the chance to make or break his NFL Draft stock. A strong showing in a College Football Playoffs could be enough for teams to overlook some inconsistency with production and pull the trigger early on in the first round.
A disappointing game for Johnston and the TVU team would only further fuel the doubt for an already polarizing prospect. Simply put, the game-wrecking wide receiver has the potential to either make or lose a lot of future money over the next month or so. With the wide receiver class wide open, Johnston has the chance to claim the top spot at the position.
It’s nearly impossible to ignore Johnston’s upside as a prospect. In the NFL, 6-foot-4, 215-pound downfield threats are hard to come by and have become increasingly valuable in a pass-heavy NFL. With that said, it is equally as challenging to ignore Johnston’s shortcomings.
The focus drops, inconsistent play strength, and poor blocking highlight why some NFL Draft scouts remain uneasy about Johnston’s pro potential. At the end of the day, what players do on the biggest stage ultimately decides their draft day fate. This is why no one has more riding on a potential playoff appearance than Quentin Johnston and TCU.