Quentin Johnston Selected No. 21 by Los Angeles Chargers in NFL Draft
Former TCU Horned Frogs star receiver Quentin Johnston is headed to Los Angeles. The Chargers chose him with the No. 21 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft Thursday night in Kansas City.
He’s the fourth Big 12 player selected during the opening day of this year’s festivities, joining Texas Tech Red Raiders EDGE rusher Tyree Wilson (Las Vegas Raiders, No. 7), Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons, No. 8) and Iowa State Cyclones EDGE rusher Will McDonald (New York Jets, No. 15).
Johnston in recent days stressed that he should have been the first receiver off the board. “Yes sir, for sure,” he said in an interview at his March 30 Pro Day, per CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell.
“I’m a 6-3, 6-4 receiver that is able to create real separation at the top of my routes in and out of my breaks and my yards after catch is top tier,” Johnston said. “I’ve set records in the Big 12 from my first year [his team-best 22.1 yards per catch average was the highest by a true freshman in Big 12 history (minimum 20 receptions)] and my second year combined. So, I feel like that’s really big. My elusiveness at the top of my route when I get the ball and you know, the deep ball is something I’m really good at as well.”
And while he wasn’t the first, he was awfully close, going second right behind Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Johnston also went right in front of Boston College wide out Zay Flowers in a flurry of pass catchers.
Johnston, a two-time, First-Team All-Big 12 honoree, hauled in 60 passes for 1,069 yards with six touchdowns in helping guide TCU to the CFP National Championship Game during the 2022 season. In a CFP Semifinal victory over Michigan, he caught six passes for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Over the course of 30 collegiate games, Johnston reeled in 115 receptions for 2,190 yards and 14 scores. He also had two rushing TDs as a freshman.
