Jericho Johnson Primed to 'Anchor' Darrion Daniels' Defensive Line

BERKELEY — Oregon transfer Jericho Johnson is primed to own the trenches on Cal’s defensive line at 6-foot-4 and 345 pounds.

According to position coach Darrion Daniels, who also made the move from Eugene to Berkeley, Johnson’s “superpower” is his knowledge of the game. 

But when factoring in his size, leadership and familiarity with head coach Tosh Lupoi’s strategy, it’s no wonder there are high expectations for the redshirt sophomore entering the 2026 season.

“I’m able to do it all,” Johnson said after practice on Wednesday. “Anchor. Double-team. Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it.”

He has looked the part during spring ball.

Johnson, a native of nearby Suisun City, didn’t see much playing time with the Ducks. That is why, when the opportunity to be a key contributor back home under Lupoi came about, he jumped at it.

“We had a lot of people who can play,” Johnson said of Oregon’s crowded depth chart. “I ended up making the decision I thought was best for myself, coming here with Tosh, also with (Daniels). My relationship with them is really what got me here.

“Man, I love playing for Tosh,” Johnson added. “He’s always attacking everything with relentless effort. I just love the culture he’s trying to instill here … That relentless effort, we need to attack that in everything we do, just in life. And football translates to life.”

Johnson is poised to thrive at Cal.

And like he said, football and life sure do intersect — especially in Berkeley.

Daniels, who joined defensive linemen Jayden Williams and Ashun Shepphard in speaking after the Oregon transfer, raved not only about Johnson but also about his entire unit when discussing who his players are as people and students.

“I got a really good group of guys, not necessarily just on the field, (but) also off the field,” Daniels said. “These dudes, they’re extremely accountable; that’s one thing I really do appreciate. Another thing is, they show a lot of relentless effort on the field and off the field.

Daniels highlighted how diligent and communicative his unit is, as his players, for example, let him know when they might be late for a meeting because they’re attending office hours.

Of course, Daniels shouted out his players’ on-the-field efforts, too.

“These dudes, they are here competing against one another,” Daniels said. “They are competing against the offense. And at the end of the day, it helps raise the level of our standard.”

The defensive line is figuring out its identity as it goes.

While Johnson is a massive human being, most of Cal’s rushers are on the “lighter” side, according to Daniels. So, the position coach says that having his players hold their ground better against double-teams is currently an area for development for the unit.

“(Linebackers) coach (Bob Gregroy) got these linebackers hitting, Daniels said. “With these guys coming downhill, I always tell my boys, ‘If you take two (offensive linemen), the linebackers are coming through.’ 

Daniels also mentioned causing “havoc” and “continuing to be your brother’s keeper” as two other aspects he is emphasizing.

So far, so good.

“We’ve only been together for like two months, maybe going on three, but it feels like we’ve known each other for years,” Williams said of the camaraderie and journey with his teammates. “We still got a lot of things to learn, but it’s exciting, man …”

There are multiple returning faces on the defensive line, including Derek Wilkins, Stanley Saole-McKenzie and Nate Burell, who missed the 2024 season due to injury. 

Daniels credited the veterans for the foundation they have built and even shouted out previous defensive line coach Andrew Browning, who now coaches edges at Washington State, for being technically sound.

But now it’s up to Johnson and Co. to make names for themselves in Berkeley, especially after a 2025 season when the Bears finished 13th in the ACC in sacks with 21 and 14th in rushing yards allowed per game with 156.6.

“It's been an enjoyable experience,” Shepphard said of playing at Cal. “I decided to come here really because I like the way Tosh plays ball. I like that he’s a defensive-minded coach.”