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The Colorado Buffaloes have secured the committment of nose tackle Jaunta’vius Johnson, a graduate transfer from Auburn, according to Adam Munsterteiger.
Defensive lineman Jauntavius Johnson, who plans to be a graduate transfer after four years at Auburn, has committed to the #CUBuffs while in Boulder on a visit according to 247Sports writer Keith Niebuhr.
— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) January 13, 2019
After years of struggling on the defensive line, the Buffs showed promise in 2018. From the starters, Mustafa Johnson is still here wrecking things, but Javier Edwards has graduated and freshman starter Israel Antwine has transferred to Oklahoma State.
At 6’2 and 326 lbs., Johnson will possibly start alongside Mustafa Johnson and sophomore Terrance Lang. The former 3-star prospect, who originally picked Auburn over Alabama, never started for the Tigers — he redshirted in 2015, missed 2016 with an injury, and was a depth piece in 2017 and 2018 — but he has showed enough promise to get a shot at Colorado.
With one year to play — and possibly another if he petitions the NCAA for a 2016 medical redshirt — he will likely compete for playing time at nose tackle with senior Lyle Tuiloma and sophomore Jalen Sami. The Buffs still have more time to add depth with other transfers, if they feel they need to.
Johnson is the second Auburn grad transfer to come since Mel Tucker took over as head coach. The other was tight end Jalen Harris. We can expect moving forward to see the Buffaloes target the South in both recruiting and transfers.
Welcome, Jaunta’vius!