The Texans fortified their backfield Thursday night, selecting Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson with the No. 16 overall draft pick.
"I was just sitting in the green room," Johnson said in a conference call Thursday night. "I think it was pick 15 up on the screen and the Houston Texans called me and told me they were going to draft me. I was just overwhelmed with joy and extremely excited."
Johnson had only spoken with the Texans at the NFL Scouting Combine. He had both a formal and informal meeting there but did not have any other meetings with Houston.
Johnson (6-1, 188) had 35 pass breakup during his collegiate career, the fourth-highest total in school history. He also amassed 190 tackles (124 solo), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and caught seven interception for 49 yards through 46 games.
"He's got some quick feet…his backpedal is blazingly fast…long arms and very confident…break on the ball is outstanding…seven passes defensed in 2014," Texans football analyst John Harris said via the Harris 100.
Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was pleased with the first-round selection:
The praise was mutual. In his first conference call as a Texan, Johnson recalled playing opposite Hopkins when the ACC rivals faced each other.
"He was a beast," Johnson said of Hopkins. "He could do it all. It was definitely great to be out there and play against guys like that at a young age and see what it's like to play against elite players."
For more on the 2015 NFL Draft prospects, click here.
Meet CB Kevin Johnson, the newest member of the Houston Texans.
