LaVonte Johnson is a long, physical young CB with starter flashes for Rice
Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 187-pound defensive back who already showed real first-start value for Rice in 2025, finishing with 7 tackles in 5 games and making a key fourth-down stop against UAB after taking over a larger role. Rice’s roster notes call him the program’s highest-rated signing in the 247Sports era, and his high school résumé—62 tackles and 14 pass breakups as a senior—fits the profile of an aggressive, disruptive cover guy. He looks like a fit for a team that values length, downhill tackling, and developmental upside in the secondary.
