Sophomore uses quickness to his advantage

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' undersized nose guard has made his presence felt in a big way through two games.

Taiwan Johnson spent a couple of quiet years at Arkansas without appearing on the two-deep depth chart on the defensive line, but he has broken out this season with 3 1/2 sacks to lead the SEC.

Johnson, 6-2, 260 pounds, has thrived at nose guard as a redshirt sophomore despite being recruited as a defensive end out of Manvel, Texas, in 2012.

" Taiwan plays extremely hard," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "He plays with a very high motor. He's a great kid with a great work ethic, and it's exciting to see him play."

Johnson had a rare sack of Auburn's Nick Marshall in the Razorbacks season-opening 45-21 loss at Auburn, then spent much of his short stint in last Saturday's 73-7 rout of Nicholls State in the Colonels' backfield, notching 2 1/2 sacks for 22 yards in losses against the Football Championship Subdivision member.

"It's been fun playing a new position and having a chance to make an impact on the team," Johnson said.

Senior defensive end Trey Flowers said Johnson's quickness is the key.

" A lot of guys probably look down on him because of his size, but he makes up for it with his speed," Flower said. "A lot of people can't get their hands on him. If you can't get your hands on him then size doesn't matter.

"Taiwan, he's been a guy from Day One that's been climbing the ladder ... getting better each and every day."

Johnson's attention to detail and receptiveness to coaching have helped him thrive as well.

"He's a guy that swarms to the football on every play," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "He understands leverage. His hands are always in the right place. His pad level is always in the right place."

Johnson opened camp behind Darius Philon at defensive tackle, which is called a "3" technique by the Hogs, but that changed quickly after the Razorbacks' first scrimmage when Bielema had a light bulb go off in his head. Bielema imagined how Johnson could give centers fits at the nose guard position, which lines up at an angle to the center.

" I really kind of stay out of those personnel things until I see something that I glowingly know can help us," Bielema said. "After that first scrimmage I just basically said we're moving Taiwan from the 3 to a tilt nose, and we're going to let him play with speed in there and be active."

Johnson, who weighs considerably less than the average nose guard or center, was a little surprised at being asked to move.

"It was going to be a challenge getting to learn a new position moving to a tilt nose," Johnson said of his initial reaction to changing positions. "I took it head-on and I'm trying to do my best."

Johnson is tied with Missouri's Markus Golden for the SEC lead with five tackles for loss, and he has teamed with Philon to create stunt combinations that can confuse blocking schemes.

"Both of them are quick, both of them are explosive," defensive line coach Rory Segrest said. " It does give you some versatility in there, being able to have some movement instead of a guy who's just playing the A gap. They're both guys who can move around and pursue the ball from the inside out, which is obviously what we're there to do."

Offensive line coach Sam Pittman noticed why Johnson was wearing out Nicholls' 305-pound center and other interior linemen.

"A bigger center would have some problems with him because he's so quick," Pittman said. "If that was the case, you'd probably have to double-team him or something of that nature. A quicker center might have a better chance.

"From what I saw the other night, their center was a little bigger and not quite as quick. That would be a problem playing him."

Offensive tackle Brey Cook has noticed Johnson in drills and on game tape.

"He's a guy who has been outstanding in his work ethic, and it's been noticeable," Cook said. "I don't go against him very often, but I see it and I see him making plays and I see how hard he works."

Sports on 09/12/2014