We here at Sons of Montezuma are putting into focus our top San Diego State Aztecs football players for you to to know in the upcoming 2025 season. Next up is Cornerback, Chris Johnson.
- Name: Chris Johnson
- Position: Cornerback
- Class: Senior in 2025
- Height / Weight: 6′0″, 185 lbs
- Hometown: Eastvale, CA
- Experience: Full-time starter since 2023; season stats include 65 tackles (49 solo), 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, and 1 interception in 2024.
San Diego State’s Chris Johnson enters the 2025 season as an important cornerback for the Aztecs’ secondary. Standing at 6′0″ and 185 lbs, he’s grown within the program from a freshman to now his senior year. Most all the defense returned despite last season’s defensive coordinator moving on to a head coach opportunity. Johnson is a key returner to this unit.
Johnson ranked second on the team with 65 total tackles in 2024, showcasing his reliability in run support and open-field tackling. He brings physicality, reliability, and leadership that this defense should have plenty of this year. He even got a few punt & kick return spots last season. So we’ll have to see if that’s in play this year.
Being a ball hawk at the corner spot is Johnson’s main duty though and being that shutdown corner can be a fun dynamic for a defense and a headache for opposing quarterbacks feeling that pressure.
Johnson led the team with three forced fumbles and added a pick and three pass breakups. Look for those numbers to improve as SDSU plays less run heavy oriented offenses and Johnson gets more opportunities this season.
Now the forced fumbles were great last season, you don’t often see corners come up with being a team leader in that category. But interception production to really boost Johnson’s next level opportunities are important. To establish himself as a top-tier CB, footwork and reaction time against elite FBS receivers will be essential.
In 2024 the Aztecs were tied for 7th in the Mountain West Conference with just 7 interceptions. Compare that to San Jose State at #1 with 21 interceptions and New Mexico being dead last with only 3. Much improvement needed there for the Aztecs and Johnson can be a big catalyst to that.
“In Aztecs history we’re never the most talented team on the field. We don’t have all the five stars or the four stars or whatever. But the thing about us is we’re relentless players—we’re gonna get to the ball.” said an enthusiastic Johnson in a media conference last year. “If a person misses the tackle it’s not a problem because 10 other brothers gonna sprint to the ball—like everyone trying to make a play.”
Overall Chris Johnson’s blend of toughness, consistency, and playmaking ability makes him a cornerstone of SDSU’s 2025 secondary. Expect him to deliver another season full of high-tackle counts, physical run support, and increased turnover production.
Stay tuned as we list more crucial Aztec Warriors that will be looking to make a big impact this 2025 season. The list isn’t in any specific order—but let us know in the comments what you think of each player as the list unfolds.
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