UVA wide receiver Keeon Johnson is coming off a subpar 2014 after catching 20 passes in seven starts as a freshman in 2013.
Johnson, a 6’3”, 210-pounder, played in all 12 games in 2014, with three starts, but caught just 13 passes for 138 yards.
Virginia coach Mike London said the issue for Johnson seemed to be as much mental as anything else.
“Sometimes you drop some passes in a game, and it continues to multiply as you go on,” London told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.
With the loss of UNC transfer T.J. Thorpe through at least the first few weeks of the 2015 season, Johnson is getting more reps at wideout and is also getting a look on the kick- and punt-return teams.
London said Johnson volunteered himself to getting more work on special teams on the return and coverage units – and has had a “really good camp” both with the offense and special-teams units.
“He’s been added to special-teams units, he’s playing multiple wide-receiver positions, he’s been productive in practice. Keeon is a guy that could quietly emerge as a guy who can help this team tremendously,” London said.
London looks for Johnson to build on his promise from 2013.
“One thing I can say is, Keeon has matured a lot as an individual here since he’s been at Virginia. This is a year that we expect to see all of his hard work and labor to come to fruition,” London said.
– Story by Chris Graham
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