In position: TCU safety Denzel Johnson delivering as first-year starter

For months, TCU safety Denzel Johnson knew where he was going to be when this season began.

In the starting lineup.

At least, he figured strongly he’d be in the starting lineup.

“Coach P, in practice the past two years, he’s really been just pushing me and preparing me for this day,” Johnson said last week after recording five tackles, a pass breakup and an interception return for a touchdown in the Horned Frogs’ 70-7 victory over Stephen F. Austin.

Johnson stopped and smiled. “I guess I was going to have to get in there some time. He really prepared me for it.”

Coach P, of course, is head coach Gary Patterson, the Frogs’ de facto defensive coordinator. He knew what he had in mind this year for Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior from Gainesville.

Through two games, Johnson has not let him down.

“Great,” Patterson said, when asked to describe Johnson’s play against SFA. “He was physical. He was in the right place. He’s a guy that can play linebacker, too.”

That doesn’t look like it will be necessary at the moment. Travin Howard and Montrel Wilson have already been drafted from the safety ranks to play linebacker.

But knowing Patterson believes you can do it only increases your value, especially for a defense working through so many injuries and absences.

“I like the compliment by him,” Johnson said, again breaking into a toothy grin. “I think I did play pretty well. I think our team played pretty well. The calls that he gave us just put me — put the whole defense — in the right position, and we played well.”

Johnson’s interception, on a ball to the right side, was the first of his career. The return covered 50 yards.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” he said. “Coach gave us a good call, put me in the right position; I did my job.”

Through his first two games as a starter, he is the Horned Frogs’ fifth-leading tackler with nine. In his first two seasons, he played in all 25 games and had 22 tackles.

But life as a starter is different.

“It really is a big difference,” Johnson said. “Last year, I was coming out in certain packages and stuff. This year, I’m a starter. You just kind of get in a rhythm and feel good out there and get a good chemistry as a whole with the defense.”

That alone sounds like an accomplishment.

The TCU defense already is down six starters. Defensive ends James McFarland (toe) and Mike Tuaua (undisclosed), defensive tackle Davion Pierson (undisclosed), linebackers Mike Freeze (personal leave) and Sammy Douglas (knee) and safety Kenny Iloka (knee) have missed all or just about all of the season.

And only Pierson is expected to return.

“It hurts my heart — he’s a senior, been playing hard, been working hard,” Johnson said of Iloka, who left the SFA game after being hurt on kickoff coverage in the first quarter. “My heart goes out to him.

“Basically, the next person has to step up and do his job. But my heart goes out to him. It’s really a tough loss.”

Just like that, Johnson has become one of the veteran figures in the secondary. He and returning starter Derrick Kindred have to shepherd a new starter in Iloka’s spot, whether it’s last week’s replacement, Michael Downing, cornerback Nick Orr or someone else.

It might even be Kindred. Or Johnson himself.

No matter. He can do that.

“Basically, everybody has to get their reps in practice and take them like they’re going to be the No. 1 guy,” Johnson said. “As long as they do that, when injuries happen, they’ll be ready to step up and get in the game.”

That’s what he’s been doing for months.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 1:01 PM with the headline "In position: TCU safety Denzel Johnson delivering as first-year starter."