The adage “if you say it enough, it will happen” came true for wide receiver Tez Johnson. Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson frequently told his former Oregon teammate and good friend, Bucky Irving, about his desire to join him in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. After he repeated the phrase over and over, it became reality. The Bucs selected Johnson in the seventh round of the draft, reuniting him with the 2024 tackle-breaking machine he knew from his days with the Ducks. Right before Johnson received the call from General Manager Jason Licht that turned his world upside down, he was watching Irving coach during Oregon’s Spring Game.
“Tez used to always say when he would be watching my games or anything like that, he would say, ‘Bro, I want to come down with you to Tampa,'” described Irving via the Up and Adams show. “He used to say it every time we got on the phone, and I always told him, ‘Just put your head down and work and God is going to take care of everything.’ Then, it happened so I guess he got what he wanted.”
While at Oregon, Irving surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of his two seasons in Eugene and led all FBS running backs in catches with 56 in 2023. With his shifty feet, low center of gravity, rare vision/spacial awareness and elite cutting skills, Irving lit up the field for the Ducks and continued the trend in the league. Irving not only had one of the most productive seasons ever for a Buccaneer rookie, but also for a first-year player in league annals. His 37.1% forced missed tackle percentage ranked first in the NFL and Irving led all rookies in scrimmage yards (1,514), rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (eight). His franchise-record 5.4 yards per rush attempt average is the third-highest mark in NFL history among rookies with 200-plus rush attempts in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson and Clinton Portis.
Johnson is looking to have the same kind of impact in the league. He confirmed that, before every game for the Ducks, he would watch Irving highlights because of his ability to make the first defender miss.
“He is slippery, and he doesn’t go down,” noted Johnson on Irving’s play style. “I am slippery but I go down on my own. He does not let anybody bring him down and it is kind of similar to me and how shifty he is at his size, and I am the same kind of way for my size. We are just elite together so that is why I watch him the most, and he was at a higher level than me.”
In his post-draft press conference, Johnson dubbed him and Irving the “Energizer Bunnies” who ignited offenses with a spark. At the Senior Bowl in 2025, Johnson torched defensive backs with nuance variations at his releases and with his twitchy footwork. He has the most YAC yards gained in college football since 2023 with 1,353 and finished top-five in Oregon history in career catches with 169, despite only playing two seasons in Eugene.
Johnson is electric with the ball in his hands and averaged 8.9 yards per punt return in college. He is a challenge to bring down after the catch with agility and start-stop prowess. Johnson routinely baits coverage with stem fakes and quickly accelerates after putting his foot in the ground. He showcased his ability to work over the top on verticals during rookie minicamp and displayed sharp breaks on out-routes. Johnson will vie to form a one-two punch with teammate Irving, bolstering the Buccaneers’ attack.
