Eric Morris Expects ‘Breakout Season’ for Oklahoma State’s ‘Most Disruptive’ Defender Jaleel Johnson

When Eric Morris told defensive end Jaleel Johnson he wanted him to be one of four players to represent Oklahoma State at Big 12 Media Days, the longtime Cowboy wasn’t exactly thrilled.

“I was nervous,” Johnson said. “I actually tried to get out of it. I went up to him and was like ‘Hey man, you can find someone else to do this.”

Morris said he could tell Johnson was still a little nervous when they boarded the plane for the quick flight down to Dallas, so he gave the defender a pep talk of sorts.

“He obviously had a little anxiety speaking in front of people, and I said, ‘Well, you’re really good at it, Jaleel,’” Morris said. “And he said, ‘Well, I don’t like it.’ And I said, ‘Well, you should suck at it then, and I wouldn’t ask you to do it.’ … He has a great personality. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know him.”

Although he wouldn’t have volunteered for the trip initially, Johnson said it was a blessing both to find himself representing the Pokes and to hear Morris express that kind of belief in him.

“He told me, ‘No, I want you to represent our team,’” Johnson said, recalling the moment he tried to get out of attending Big 12 Media Days. “Hearing him say that, I was like, okay.”

That simple statement carried a lot of weight with Johnson, considering the defender stressed that the coaching turnover would result in him getting sidelined in favor of guys Morris had known prior to his arrival in Stillwater last December.

To say the exact opposite happened might still be an understatement, as Morris spent a lot of his time in front of reporters last week singling out Johnson as perhaps the defender most worthy of praise.

When Morris was asked about the defensive side of the football, the first player the head coach mentioned was Johnson, and he arguably received the highest praise of all Cowboys highlighted at the time.

“Jaleel Johnson, who I think is an all-conference-caliber player,” Morris said. “He has the size, the talent to play on Sundays.”

If anything, Morris’ comments about Johnson got even more positive throughout the day.

“He was probably our most disruptive player over the course of spring practice,” Morris said. “And somebody that I think can change a football game for us. Just watching the way he’s worked, the way he’s accepted the new coaches, the way he’s accepted the new teammates, being one of the leaders that understands Oklahoma State. He’s been here his whole entire career. We don’t have many of those on this roster.”

Morris said he anticipates a “breakout season” ahead for Johnson, who only played four games last season. Pro Football Focus judged Johnson to be the team’s best defender with an overall grade of 78.2.

He finished the season with 12 total pressures, which put him in a tie for second-most on the Cowboys. Johnson also recorded 16 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, which nearly put him even with his final 10-game stat line in 2024, when he finished with 21 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a pair of sacks.

Morris admitted that he had to learn how to be happy when guys like Johnson have good practices. Because that usually means he, as the offensive playcaller, watched his guys struggle somewhat.

“I think just he has this unique size and speed and power that God just doesn’t make people that big, that athletic and that strong,” Morris said. “He can beat you with speed, and then he’ll set you up with speed, and then he uses power the next time and puts an offensive tackle on skates. I think this scheme will really fit him well to play that strong side end, and he’s really good in the run. He’s gained weight, he’s 275 pounds right now, and so he’ll really be able to anchor down and set the edge for us.”