Always affable, the junior cornerback doesn’t hesitate for even a split second when asked if he’s the fastest player on the team. “Oh yeah, definitely. No doubt,” he responds when asked, much as he did following Tuesday’s practice session.

Indeed coaches have confirmed Johnson’s claim, mentioning on several occasions that the 6-foot, 185 speedster from Monterey, California can win a foot race versus anyone on the team, which includes burners such as Mory Bamba, Marcus and Dominique McKenzie, Parker Kingston and Cody Hagen, among others.

But speed, while important, is just one of several assets one has to possess to provide productive play on the football, and certainly versus prolific passing offenses like the one Johnson and his teammates will face this Saturday.

East Carolina will present the toughest test for the Cougar secondary so far this season, and by a wide margin. The Pirates passing arsenal, led by two-year starting quarterback Katin Houser, averages just over 350 yards per game while featuring a wide-open attack with several notable wideouts who can burn an opposing defense.

“He reads the defense really well, so I feel like disguising coverages is going to be big for us,” Johnson said regarding Houser and his strengths. “He likes to get the ball out (fast), so the three-step read is going to be big for us…and then just trusting in Coach (Jay) Hill and in our abilities.”

“He’s very accurate and he does a great job getting the ball out of his hand,” added BYU Defensive Coordinator about Houser. “He doesn’t take doesn’t take a lot of pressures because he sees things well. He’s a real challenge for us because of the way he’s been playing…and he’s got good receivers and tight ends to throw to.”

Hill went on to mention that he likes the competition that has emerged within the cornerback group that will be tested time and again this coming Saturday. While cornerbacks like Bamba, Therrian Alexander and Jayden Dunlap have rotated a lot at one of the cornerback positions, Johnson has seen the bevy of reps on the other side, and for good reason.

Since emerging last season, Johnson, who holds the nickname ‘Schmev’, has worked to improve in arriving as perhaps BYU’s most consistent performer at the position.

“I just feel like I’m doing everything better,” Johnson said regarding his progress from last season. “My technique is a lot more clean and crisp and I feel a lot more comfortable. Last year I was able to make plays, but this year I feel a lot more suited to make plays. I’m just excited to get out there and I feel real confident compared to last year.”

One asset Johnson possesses, other than his superior speed, is advanced ball skills acquired from his time spent playing receiver in high school and certainly from his father, Ron Johnson, who played in the NFL for a number of years.

“I just switched to corner when I got to BYU and my dad played receiver for the Eagles,” Evan said. “So my dad emphasized a lot growing up to get the ball at its highest point, the hands battle and that’s all sort of translated to how I play corner. When I see the ball at the highest point, I want to go get it and make that play. That’s a big part of my game and it’s a great strength to have.”

Last year BYU led the nation in interceptions, with Evan Johnson adding two to his team’s total of 22. This year he’s hoping to add a lot more to his personal total in hopes of lifting the team to surpass its nation-leading total. The opportunity to take away some passes will be plenty against a Pirate team that passes the ball early and often, with Houser attempting close to 40 throws per game.

“I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a fun game,” Evan Johnson concluded. “They’re a pass happy team, so there’s going to be a lot of opportunities to make plays and that’s the most fun thing for a corner. So it’s going to be a great test and a lot of fun.”