Edit 3:39 p.m. 3/8/23: GoCoogs earlier reported that Johnson practiced on Tuesday. After reviewing the video, that does not appear to be the case. Trevonte Sylvester and Tank Jenkins were getting most of the reps we recorded. Apologies for the error.
Cam’Ron Johnson announced Wednesday that he would be entering the transfer portal. Johnson started all 13 games in 2022 and was a first-team All-AAC left guard. He is the most significant transfer loss since D’Eriq King in Dana Holgorsen’s first year.
The portal is “closed” currently and will re-open on May 1. Under NCAA rules, Johnson should not be able to have contact with other schools until then.
Cam’Ron tweeted after our story was published:
I’ve officially hit the transfer portal.
— Cam’Ron (@CamronJohnson_) March 8, 2023
“I’m hoping I can build that trust and get to know them,” OL coach Eman Naghavi said Tuesday about his OL group. Naghavi was hired less than six weeks ago.
Johnson played 905 of 939 snaps at LG (offense plus special teams). He gave up only 13 pressures all season (second-best among starters).
He was a no-doubt starter going forward into the Big 12 in 2023. Alongside Patrick Paul, also a first-team All-AAC, he was expected to be the nucleus of the offensive line. With Johnson’s departure, OL goes from a major concern to a disaster for Holgorsen and Naghavi.
Mark Berman communicated with him, and Cam’Ron reportedly said, “I honestly feel like it was just the best decision for me so I can expand my football career and I feel like it was the right step.”
Johnson was removed from the roster on UHCougars.com by the time the news broke.
Naghavi was asked about the two sides of his OL on Tuesday but did not go into specifics. Here is the question and answer from that media availability: