Utah Utes football: Johnson playing complete game now

Robert Johnson is enjoying the best of two worlds. The Utah safety is making plays and the 19th-ranked Utes are winning games.

As one of just five collegiate players in the nation with five interceptions on the season, Johnson is making quite an impact in his final campaign with the Utes.

"He's playing terrific ball," said defensive end Christian Cox, who teamed with Johnson on an improbable touchdown play in last week's 35-15 win at UNLV.

After intercepting a pass late in the second quarter, Cox lost control of the ball while being tackled. Johnson snagged the loose ball before it hit the ground and ran 64 yards for a touchdown.

On UNLV's previous series, Johnson set up a Utah score by returning an interception 31 yards to the Rebel 10-yard line.

The plays helped the Utes build a 28-6 halftime lead.

"He's that type of playmaker. He's a game-breaker," Cox said. "He brings a lot of ease to us knowing that we have him in the backfield to take balls away from people. So that's great."

Johnson, who is tied for the national lead with 0.83 interceptions per game, has made quite an impact in recent weeks.

In Utah victories at Colorado State and UNLV, Johnson has tallied 11 tackles, four interceptions, two tackles-for-loss, a touchdown, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Earlier in the season, Johnson returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown against Oregon.

"He's been huge. If you single out one guy, particularly in the last few weeks, as who has had the biggest impact, it would be Robert Johnson," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "He is playing his best football, without a doubt, as a Ute. He's always been a solid player and he's always been a big-play guy, but he is now playing a complete game.

"He's physical against the run. He comes down and tackles well," Whittingham added. "All his reads are very good. We're just very pleased with where he is."

Entering Saturday's game against Air Force, Johnson is fifth on the team with 26 tackles. Two of his stops have come behind the line of scrimmage.

"He's playing tremendous football for us," Whittingham said. "I think he's one of the best free safeties in the country."

Johnson, though, isn't worried about such accolades. He downplayed a recent top 10 national defensive back ranking by a prominent Web site.

"The best way to play is to just go out there and show them on the field," he said.

Utes on the air

Air Force (4-3, 3-1) at No. 19 Utah (5-1, 2-0)

Saturday, 2 p.m.

Rice-Eccles Stadium

TV: Versus HD Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com